STATEMENT TO PRESS ON SOMALIA BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

The following is today’s press statement on Somalia by Security Council President Martin Belinga-Eboutou (Cameroon):

Members of the Security Council welcome the launching in Eldoret Town, Kenya, of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) sponsored process for national reconciliation in Somalia.

Members of the Security Council firmly underscore their united support for the IGAD sponsored reconciliation process on Somalia and strongly encourage all Somali and regional parties to participate constructively throughout the process in order to achieve the overriding objective of ending the violence and the suffering of the Somali people and bringing them the peace and stability they so dearly deserve.

Members of the Security Council note with satisfaction the wide regional and international support for IGAD’s unified approach to national reconciliation in Somalia, under which the opportunity to participate must be seized, in accordance with the framework established by IGAD.

Members of the Security Council recognize the crucial role played by the IGAD Technical Committee comprised of the three frontline states -- Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti -- in laying the foundations for the process, and encourage them to continue to play this positive role.  Special tribute in this regard is paid to the Government of Kenya for its commitment as host.

Members of the Council reaffirm their commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia and reaffirm their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of the country, consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Members of the Security Council underline their commitment to address continuously the situation in Somalia, taking into account the progress made throughout the IGAD sponsored reconciliation process or any lack of cooperation afforded thereto.

Members of the Security Council express their commitment to assist the parties in the implementation of the steps and conclusions for peace in Somalia, as adopted by the Conference.