Presidents of Somalia and Somaliland hold talks in Turkey

By The Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey has hosted direct talks between the presidents of Somalia and the breakaway Somaliland region to encourage dialogue between the two.

No statement was released after Saturday's meeting between Somalia's Hassan Sheik Mohamud and Ahmed Silanyo of Somaliland.

Somalia wants Somaliland to be part a united country. But the territory, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been a haven of relative peace amid the chaos and bloodshed in the country's south, is seeking international recognition. The international community is urging the sides to find a negotiated solution.

Silanyo's office has said the talks would focus on co-operation, including the fight against terrorism and piracy.

Turkey, which hosted the meeting, has been providing emergency relief and development aid to Somalia and enjoys close ties to both sides.

Turkish FM meets with Somalia, Somaliland presidents

Davutoğlu met with two leaders in the Turkish capital for talks to mitigate problems the two sides are facing.

World Bulletin/News Desk

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu met with leaders of Somalia and Somalia's autonomous Somaliland region on Saturday in the Turkish capital for talks to mitigate problems the two sides are facing.
Davutoğlu came together with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and Somaliland President Ahmed Silanyo at the Ankara Palas. Mahmoud and Silanyo were also expected to have talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish President Abdullah Gül after meeting with Davutoğlu.
Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence as a de facto sovereign state in 1991 after a coalition of clan-based armed opposition groups ousted the nation's long-standing military government. The area is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.
Turkish diplomatic sources close to the meeting have said talks -- the first at the presidential level -- were aimed at devising dialogue channels and keeping them open to work out problems between Somalia and the autonomous region of Somaliland.
The two presidents were also scheduled to meet with their Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul as well as with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During his first diplomatic visit to Turkey in late December after taking office, Mohamud expressed his gratitude to the Turkish government and the nation for their support and aid and for instilling hope in Somalis. Mohamud, Somalia's president since last September, was invited to Turkey by his counterpart, President Abdullah Gül.
Silanyo also visited Turkey in mid-March to have talks with Turkish officials, including Davutoğlu, who pledged to increase aid efforts to Somaliland. During his visit, Silanyo was also scheduled to meet with Erdoğan; however, the meeting had to be canceled due to Erdoğan's poor health.