GAROWE, Somalia
Apr 29 2013 (Garowe Online) – Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and
Somali Federal Government President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a press
conference on an agreement reached during President Hassan’s visit to Puntland,
Garowe Online reports.
During
President Hassan’s two day stay in Garowe – administrative capital of Puntland
State – he met with President Farole to discuss many issues including
federalism, security, economy and cooperation.
Both
leaders held a joint press conference outside the main entrance of the new
Presidential Palace in Garowe where both leaders briefly touched on the issues
agreed on in their meeting.
President
Farole stated that the two agreed on: dialogue for reconciliation throughout
Somalia; improving security through building Somali National Forces whose
responsibility will be tasked to technical committee; abiding by the previous
agreement made by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and President Farole.
During the
press conference President Farole stated that the two leaders had agreed to some
issues but reach a deadlock on some issues.
“I’m very
pleased to welcome Somalia’s President Hassan to Puntland who will be departing
today. We had fruitful discussions and reached an agreement on some issues and
some issues need further discussions,” said President Farole.
Government
sources told GO that one issue that leaders could not reach an agreement on was
Puntland’s attendance of the London conference next month. Puntland attended the
London conference last year but sources say the government has not reached a
decision to attend this year’s conference as of yet.
President
Hassan also touched on some of the issues that were discussed during his meeting
with President Farole. One issue that was raised in discussions was the altering
of the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC). President Hassan discussed the
issue that was raised during his statement on Monday.
“The
Puntland government raised concerns about the altering of the [Provisional
Federal] Constitution, we were not aware of this issue,” said President Hassan.
President
Hassan also discussed emerging states which he described as a constitutional
right however was concerned about implementation. Local sources tell GO that
President Farole and President Hassan didn’t see eye to eye on supporting
emerging states with special regards to Jubaland.
President
Hassan promised to review and finalize the PFC as agreed on by Roadmap
signatories last year. President Hassan thanked the Puntland government and
people for their warm welcome and stated that the SFG’s presence would be felt
in Puntland.
“Politics
in Somalia needs cooperation and consultation and we will reach our goals only
through this manner,” President Hassan said in his final statement on Monday.
President
Farole and a delegation of Ministers, MPs, authorities and civil society
accompanied President Hassan and his delegation to the airport where he flew
back to Mogadishu.
GAROWE
ONLINE
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