Ethiopia boosts relations with breakaway territories of Somalia

March 14, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi today held talks with the heads of the two breakaway entities of Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland, on ways to boost bilateral relations.
Somaliland is a self-proclaimed state established in 1991.It considers itself to be the successor state of the former British Somaliland protectorate, but remains unrecognized by the international community. However it has strong relations with Ethiopia and its president had been received as head of state for the first time in June 2007, by Meles Zenawi.
The Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia and unlike neighboring Somaliland, it does not seek outright independence from Somalia. To the contrary, its former president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, was strongly backed by Ethiopia in his bid to conquer the country at the head of the Transitional Federal Government...more..http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article30513
Meles holds discussions with Puntland President Regions of Somalia