Brussels, 22/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - The new federal parliament in Somalia was sworn in on Monday 21 August in Mogadishu's airport and was welcomed as progress by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, who calls for the continuation of the political process to quickly drive this country - which has been deprived of a state for 20 years - to equip itself with a true government and a new president.
“With the first convening of the new Federal Parliament of Somalia yesterday a milestone has been reached in the ending of the transition. This is the first time in 20 years that Somalis have met in Somalia to decide the future of their country”, Ashton said in a statement published in the evening of 21 August. She added: “We urge all the participants of the political process in Somalia to continue their work in the spirit of peace, compromise and dialogue so that all Somalis can move forward with a sense of clarity within a new political framework.”
Speaking about the next step - the election of the head of state by the members of parliament, which was due to take place on Monday when the mandate of the federal institutions of transition expired - Ashton said that “the Somali people deserve to be represented by leaders, including women, who reflect all facets of Somali society. We encourage the Committee of Elders and the Technical Selection Committee to complete their work without interruption or interference so that this aspiration can be met.” At this stage, only 211 members of parliament (representing nonetheless the required quorum for the Chamber to function) have been sworn in out of the 275 which will make up the new Somali parliament.
Ashton is confident of “the positive momentum created in recent weeks” and looks forward to “the completion of the transition process in the next few days with the parliament reaching its full membership”.
She thanks the special representative Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the UN, for “his tireless efforts” and pays tribute “to all the Somalis and African Union forces” for the role they have played in creating the conditions of security for this step forward. (AN/transl.fl)