Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 23/05/2010
22 MAY 2010, ISTANBUL Mr. Chairman H.E. Minister Davutoğlu, Honorable President Sheikh Sharif of the Republic of Somalia, H.E. President Siladzic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, H.E. UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to address the Istanbul Conference on Somalia. Allow me to convey my profound appreciation and gratitude to the Republic of Turkey and the UN for their initiative to convene this Conference and for the kind invitation extended to me to participate in this important event. The presence of the high-level attendance today demonstrates a clear commitment of the international community as well as its sustained interest on the situation in Somalia. Displaying international support and solidarity with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) under President Sheikh Sharif could not have come at the better time than now when a renewed impetus is required to further support the TFG in concluding successfully the tasks under the transition period. The OIC continues to work closely with the UN with a view to coordinating actions aimed at restoring durable peace to Somalia. Only last December, the OIC successfully hosted the 16th session of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia at its Headquarters based in Jeddah. Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Since the beginning of the conflict in Somalia nearly two decades ago, the OIC has consistently given the situation in that country, a founding Member State of the OIC, the priority that it deserved. As an active participant in the peace process and being an Observer under the Djibouti Peace Agreement, the OIC embarked on mobilizing efforts to extend necessary financial, material and logistic aid to Somalia. In all its Resolutions, the OIC has continued to stress that only genuine collective and sincere international endeavors and initiatives could help Somalia to overcome the challenges that it poses to itself, the region and the world. Very recently, the 37th CFM held in Dushanbe on 18-20 May 2010, adopted a specific Resolution on Somalia which contains a number of measures and recommendations to achieve enduring peace, security and stability in this country. Shortly after the optimism of a new dawn created by the inauguration of the TFG, the euphoria was dampened by a renewed wave of assaults by the insurgent groups seeking the overthrow of this internationally recognized authority and undermining the fruits of our collective efforts. At this stage, I wish to reiterate my strong condemnation of the continuing violence targeting the innocent Somalis and aggravating the dire prevailing humanitarian crisis in the country. I also reiterate my appeal to all those opposition groups outside the Djibouti process to drop their weapons and seek accommodation in the TFG. The international community must remain united and steadfast to help the current government in Somalia bring an end to the vicious cycle of violence afflicting the country. Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Despite the existing level of international solidarity with the TFG to consolidate and expand its control over the country, Somalia remains at a crossroads with a fragile security. As stakeholders in the new Somali project, we must all continue to work with and through the TFG to protect and preserve our collective investment in the interest of regional and international peace, security and stability. The TFG needs to be empowered to continue its crucial outreach and reconciliation programmes inside Somalia from a position of strength and not weakness so as to advance the political process and execute tasks prescribed during the transition period ending August 2011. In this context, the OIC welcomed the accord to which we contributed recently signed between the TFG and the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jama’ah group as an important milestone. We all have obligations to strengthen the TFG deliver services and make peace attractive to the opposition by honoring all pledges especially those made at the Donors’ Conference on 23rd April 2009 in Brussels. Peace can be built through strengthening institutions and expanding the capacities of the TFG and AMISOM which continues to operate under serious constraints. The OIC salutes their sacrifices. We also commend the efforts of the international community to combat the growing menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The OIC notes with appreciation the recent agreement between the TFG and Puntland to collaborate in addressing the menace of piracy in the region. While the OIC is aware of the enormous security challenges facing Somalia, withdrawing or keeping away from the country could only strengthen the insurgents and weaken the TFG. For this reason, I dispatched on 2-3 May 2010 an OIC mission to Mogadishu to open the OIC Humanitarian Coordination Office in the country in fulfillment of my pledge to 16th ICG meeting in Jeddah. The delegation met all the relevant Somali parties and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the TFG for the commencement of operations by the Office. Concrete actions such as these could rekindle hope and send a positive message of solidarity to the Somalis especially the weak and the vulnerable. The mission reported the prevalence of a dire humanitarian crisis which has been compounded by the suspension of the operations of the World Food Programme in Central and South Somalia. The OIC calls on this agency and others to intensify their assistance rather than fleeing the country at this critical moment. Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, As I stand here today, it is opportune to again reiterate the solemn pledge of the OIC to Somalis that it will never abandon them. All partners of Somalia should renew their commitment to the TFG by extending required assistance that will empower the authorities deliver on the peace dividends. Accordingly, it is necessary to remind the international community to accord urgent priority to convening the proposed Donors’ Conference for the Reconstruction and Development of Somalia. In the meantime, the TFG must continue to address all tasks under the transition including the constitutional process and its outreach programme, poverty alleviation, justice administration and the promotion of human rights to win more credibility and enhance its legitimacy. It should continue to reach out to the huge Somalis in diaspora for their contributions in the overall development and reconstruction of their country. The Somali project is an international partnership that cannot afford to fail. Stabilizing Somalia is a major investment in strengthening global peace and security. Enormous responsibilities are therefore placed on our shoulders individually and collectively but the Somalis must be prepared to take the lead in laying the foundation of durable development of their country. Before concluding my remarks, I would like to reiterate my thanks to United Nations and the Turkish Government for organizing and hosting this important event. I wish this Conference resounding success. Thanks for your kind attention.
