Ethiopia would not back away from supporting TFG: Seyoum

Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin says Ethiopia would not back away from its commitment to provide capacity building support to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
The foreign minister reiterated his government's stand during talks here on Saturday with Somalian Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and Finance Minister Sherif Sheikh Hassan Adem. Ethiopia and IGAD would continue to work in collaboration with the TFG in their bid to help bring about peace and stability in Somalia, Seyoum said. Seyoum indicated the need to create a situation whereby the people of Somalia manage their own affairs, and this would call for the attention of the international community, IGAD and the AU. The international community is required to do much to assist in the efforts of the TFG, Seyoum said, adding the piracy should be dealt with from its source. The fight against piracy should go hand in hand with practical moves towards building the capacity of the government in Somalia, he said. He said IGAD member countries are due to meet soon to seek ways of soliciting increased support from the international community to the TFG. The TFG now under President Sheikh Sherif has as an initial objective of bringing about reconciliation on a broader base, Seyoum said. Prime Minister Omar Abdurashid Sharmarke said his discussions with Foreign Minister Seyoum centered on politcal, security and social issues and were fruitful.
He said his administration has been doing better calling on Somalian actors for peace in line with the Djibouti peace agreement. He said his discussion with Foreign Minister Seyoum sought best ways on how Ethiopia could strengthen its support for the peace and stability of Somalia.
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(c) The Ethiopian News Ag