Jendayi Frazer on arrival at Hargeysa airport received by top Somaliland ministers |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, 3 February 2008 (SL Times) - U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer flew in to Egal international Hargeysa airport with the Special Envoy for Somalia, John M. Yates, for a one day brief visit. This is the highest US ranking diplomat to visit the republic since its independence declaration in 1991.
The US delegation was met at the airport by Somaliland’s Foreign minister Abdillahi M. Duale, the Interior minister Abdillahi Ismail Ali, the minister of Aviation Ali M Waranade and other Somaliland top officials.
U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Miss Jendayi Frazer |
Miss Jendayi Frazer briefly spoke to the media at VIP lounge and was asked the purpose of her visit to Hargeysa.
“Our visit to Somaliland is in connection and follow-up to President Dahir Rayale Kahin’s recent, visit, to Washington and on top of that to continue to work with the Somaliland authorities in the issues concerning peace, stability and security of the region. Our visit is also an acknowledgement of the democratic progress made by Somaliland,” said Jendayi Frazer
In addition, the U.S. Assistant Secretary said that "the US, assisted Somaliland in past elections and will continue to do so in the coming elections. We are here, today, to show our support for this and to mark the friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries.”
Speaking to the local media at Egal international airport VIP lounge, Jendayi Frazer commented on the issue of recognition: “we have said on many occasions that the US will continue to work with Somaliland, in particular, in the strong democratic values which Somaliland has succeeded in implementing and that we believe the issue of recognition should be left with the AU. We will work with the AU and will respect whatever decision it makes on Somaliland’s status.”
The US delegation left the airport for Ambassador Hotel and held talks with President Dahir Rayale Kahin and the opposition political parties.
Jendayi Frazer met with President Rayale and top government officials behind closed doors. She also met Kulmiye, Ucid and Udub political party heads in private.
The US delegation also talked to the leaders of the unregistered political party ‘Qaran’ at the Ambassador Hotel.
Jendayi Frazer’s discussions with the president, government officials and political parties concerned issues relating to strengthening US and Somaliland ties and strenghthening cooperation of the two countries and discussed in detail the republic's up and coming general elections, scheduled to take place in six months time.
After a brief 4hr visit to Somaliland, Jendayi Frazer and her delegation flew back to Addis Ababa from Egal international airport.
Source: Somaliland Times
http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/315/71.shtml
