I Didn’t Come Here (Somaliland) To Mediate Says UN Envoy

''I always feel at home in Somaliland because it is a place that I draw in inspirational, and I also feel very much welcomed..'' Dr Mahiga

- The United Nation special envoy to Somalia and Somaliland Mr Augustine Mahiga arrived in Hargeisa a day after Somaliland government announced its decision to pull out of the proposed talks with Somaliland. He was received by the Somaliland Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar, speaking to reporters upon his arrival in the VIP lounge Mr. Augustine Mahiga told reporters he was on a regularly periodic visit to Somaliland, and that he was happy to visit the country.

The UN envoy revealed the purpose of his visit was to the office (UNOPS) which has a permanent presence in the country, he add that it is always refreshing to visiting Somaliland because the continuous achievement taking place in and all round such as in the areas of peace stability and socio economic development .

Ambassador Mahiga said Somaliland is a key player in both regional and international issues such piracy but at the same time we come to learn in Somaliland because of the many achievement ,said Mr. Mahiga and also to thank Somaliland government for the great effort it has undertaken in responding to drought and the famine in the past view months, not to forget the noble gesture by the government of Somaliland for allowing Its territory to be used for distribution of emergency relief assistance to other parts of the Horn of Africa.

Envoy Mahiga said it is a pleasure for me to visiting Somaliland and that I always feel at home in Somaliland because it is a place that I draw in inspirational, and I also feel very much welcomed, he added during my stay I will be discussing wide range of issues with government officials. Somaliland press correspondent asked the UN envoy if he was in the country to convince the Somaliland government to come back to the table after the opted out of the talks with the TFG one day ago, after the TFG President Sh. Sharif appointed two more facilitators in addition to the previous seven.

Ambassador Mahiga answered no, but this is a bilateral issue certainly do understand that in any kind of discussion there are always issues that preside the agenda I still believe the dialogue is still going on and before any serious discussions begin there are always modalities of how the talks should proceed and at these stage It is definitely an issue that rest with the two capital.

I would be following any new developments with a keen interest, said the envoy but at the moment I don’t have any specific message that I bring with me regarding this matter but the whole world is watching with a keen eye to see what will come out of these and hopefully I think there will be a mutual agreeable formula arrangement to begin this talks.

Source: Somalilandpress