In Post-Morsi Diplomacy, Turkey Hosting Somaliland & Somalia Talks

By Matthew Russell Lee 

UNITED NATIONS -- With events in Egypt putting Turkish diplomatic forays ever more in question, the country has gone forward with its attempts to mediate between Somalia and Somaliland.

Could this reverse things for Turkey, casting it in the role of Qatar on Darfur or Burkina Faso on Mali?

As Somaliland's Minister of Trade and International Investment, Dr. Mohamed A. Omar and Somalia's Minister of Interior and National Security, Abdikarim H. Guled met, it was Free UN Coalition for Access member Mohamoud Walaaleye who asked, obtained and sent us a document said to be the 1960 (ill-fated) union on Somalia and Somaliland.

We put it online here. But why was the UN seat not called Somali Republic? Here are the Somaliland side's points:

 

1. SFG should recognize that Somaliland reclaimed their independence

2. As long as discussion continues for two sides Somaliland should be allocated separate seat during international conferences concerned what was used Somalia

3. Somalia should arrest and hand to Somaliland all individuals committed crime against humanity, and given compensation

4. Somaliland should have authority of managing its airspace.

5. Getting investment for Somaliland resources.

Somalia’s five point agenda was:

1. Unity of Somalia should be abiding

2. Permit free movement of people and politicians on each side.

3. Other remaining dialogues be hold inside country

4. To hold future dialogues inside Somaliland or Somalia

5. Design standard procedure abiding for future dialogue

The UN unilaterally transferred Somaliland's airspace to Mogadishu, leading to a cancellation of UN system flights. UN envoy Nicholas Kay has been told that the new UNSOM mission should not open in Somaliland. 

Meanwhile, Kay declined to confirm or deny that in Mogadishu UN Mine Action Service boss David Bax shares information with US intelligence. Kay told Inner City Press this is a question for the UN in New York, where UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous refuses to answer Press questions. That is now being fought by the Free UN Coalition for Access. Watch this site.