Somalia: EU Commission calls for immediate resumption of talks in order to avoid new war

The European Commissioner for development for humanitarian aid, Louis Michel, expressed today the deepest concern of the European Union at the deteriorating security situation in Somalia and the risk of an imminent conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts. He said: "I call upon all parties to refrain from engaging in a war that cannot be won by anyone. The spoilers and warmongers of all sorts that seek conflict in order to prevail militarily are fooling themselves as well as the Somali people. The Somali people are tired of war and violence. They crave and deserve peace, security and development for their country, and a chance to build decent livelihoods and a future for their children. A new war in Somalia will have tragic consequences not just for the people of Somalia but for the whole region and beyond. We simply cannot afford for that to happen."

Commissioner Michel had contacts this week in Nairobi with President Yusuf and Prime Minister Gedi of Somalia, the Speaker of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament and Sheik Aweys the leader of the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts. He urged all parties to commit themselves to engage in negotiations in good faith and without preconditions and to resume talks in the framework of the Khartoum process. "I do not accept that Somalia is doomed. From the contacts I have had with all the Somali leaders this week, I am convinced that there is still a will to avoid war. There is still a window of opportunity for resolving the problems through political dialogue within the framework of the Transitional Charter", he added.

The EU is heavily engaged in the Khartoum negotiation process and supports the mediation efforts of the League of Arab States and Kenya. Louis Michel considers that "the Khartoum talks must resume as a matter of urgency. There must be concerted and greater efforts from all the regional and international organisations and actors to press the parties to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis. This is the message I passed to President Yusuf, the Speaker of the Transitional Parliament and the leadership of the Islamic Courts."

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• EU Council Conclusions on Somalia (22/1/2007)
• EU Commission provides €2m in humanitarian aid for Somali refugees in Kenya (21/12/2006)
• Somalia: EU Commissioner Michel on a peace mission to region  (19/12/2006)
• Statement by EUHR Solana and Commissioner Michel on the reconciliation process in Somalia (14/11/2006)
• Somalia: EU Commission condemns attack against President and Parliament (20/9/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Somalia (15/9/2006)
• European Commission to provide €70 M to boost the transition and fight poverty in Somalia (19/5/2006)