SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ALL SOMALIS TO JOIN AND SUPPORT DJIBOUTI PEACE INITIATIVE

Press Release
SG/SM/7455
AFR/246

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ALL SOMALIS TO JOIN AND SUPPORT DJIBOUTI PEACE INITIATIVE

The following statement was issued by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

The Secretary-General was encouraged by the news that the Somalia National Peace Conference has moved into its second phase. He welcomes this development and hopes that it paves the way for substantive talks among representatives of all sectors of Somali society about the political future of their country. He also hopes that it will lead to an agreement on the formation of a transitional arrangement that would safeguard Somalia's sovereignty and prepare the ground for a lasting settlement. The Secretary-General urges all Somalis to join and support the Djibouti peace initiative.

The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to commend the tireless efforts of President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti to help bring about a political resolution to the Somalia conflict. He reiterates his support for the process and looks forward to a successful conclusion of the deliberations in Djibouti.

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