London, 10 Feb 2014 (SDN) –The British Government considers that it is for Somalia and Somaliland themselves to determine their future relationship and for neighbouring countries in the region to take the lead in recognising any new arrangements.
Those were the words of the UK Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Warsi while responding to queries posed by Lord Chidgey asking Her Majesty’s Government what are the assessment they have made of Somaliland’s declared independence from Somalia the British in the House of Lords during the UK parliamentary Q&A sessions of 28th January 2014.
Baroness Warsi stated , “The UK has also consistently encouraged and supported dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia, hosting in June 2012 the first face to face talks since Somaliland’s declaration of independence. We welcome and support the ongoing dialogue between the two parties facilitated by Turkey.
Following the London Conference in February 2012, which “recognised the need for the international community to support any dialogue that Somaliland and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) or its replacement may agree to establish in order to clarify their future relations”, the TFG and Somaliland met for the first time at Chevening in the UK, in June 2012. We agreed to cooperate on matters of mutual interest. Somalia and Somaliland have held several further rounds of talks in Turkey, at Ministerial level, including earlier this month. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), raised the importance of a lasting and mutually acceptable agreement between Somali and Somaliland during his discussions at the 2014 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa with the new Somali Foreign Minister, Abdurahman Duale Beyle.
in Somaliland has achieved a more stable and prosperous region, and in particular (1) the recognition of the authority of state institutions, (2) an increase in the proportion of the population perceiving improved security, (3) the country’s finances being managed on equable geographic and clan grounds, and (4) the achievement of a sustainable fiscal environment.
The Somaliland Development Fund, supported by the UK, supports this effort by improving delivery of key public services through transparent and accountable systems, underpinned by public financial management and wider public sector reform. The Somaliland Administration now has in place a plan to improve its public financial management and increase budget transparency. The UK is also supporting the development of the private sector, and planning a new programme to enable the Somaliland Administration to increase revenue generation in the long-term.
The UK is also working with the Somaliland Administration to build its capacity in counter terrorism in an effective manner, compliant with legal and human rights obligations, and to strengthen border and aviation security. There has not been a major terrorist attack in Somaliland since 2008.
In our engagement with the Somaliland Administration, we have consistently underlined the importance the UK places on equitable development across the whole of Somaliland, including via the Somaliland Development Fund.
We are working with the Somalilanders to improve healthcare, water provision, roads, the environment, help for farmers, education, and the rule of law. We have improved maternal health, newborn and child health, and nutrition levels. For example, more than 4,300 children under five have been inoculated against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
Department for International Development (DfID) support to the Somaliland Administration has helped create 23,000 long-term jobs, and 105,000 days of paid work for people, as well as helping to create the right environment for business.
UK assistance has enabled the Somaliland Administration to develop its own strategy for improving the management of public finances, which includes work on budget transparency, accountability and oversight, and the process for determining budget allocations.
Through the DfID health programme in Somaliland, communities have been mobilised to increase their access to, and use of, health services. This includes activities to generate awareness of preventive measures to improve health, as well as awareness on when and where to access to treatment that may be required. We also capitalise on major events to encourage media interest in service delivery.
Source: Horn Newspaper