IGAD foreign ministers urged Somalis to actively participate in third phase of national reconciliation conference

Addis ABABA, May 22(ENA)-- The 6th Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) ministerial facilitation committee meeting on the Somali peace process held in Nairobi, Kenya on friary agreed with the spirit of the previous commitments to help restore lasting peace and stability in Somalia.

According to a joint communiqué the IGAD member states foreign affairs ministers issued, the early arrival in narobi of the remaining geneuine invited traditional leaders and requested the political leaders to cooperate in the smooth implementation of the decision.

The ministers reiterated that their role and that of the IGAD partners forum is merely that of facilitating the peace talks and challenged the Somalis to take the responsibility of bring their country back to normalcy by ensuring that an all inclusive government is formed.

They gave the facilitation committee a robust mandate and clear political objectives to ensure the success of the peace conference.

The ministers further expressed their commitment to a strong regional consensus for the conference.

They also asked for all-inclusively, a balance among the political groups and equitable representation in the government. They called for fairness and transparency in the process of selection of members of the transitional federal parliament.

The ministers further expressed their readiness to mobilize regional and international support for recognition of the government to be established at the conclusion of the recalculation conference.

The ministers encouraged and called for adequate, sustained support and provision of sufficient resources while availing logistical, moral and financial sustainance to see the most important and critical third phase to successful conclusion.

They urged those who have made the pledge to honor their pledges without further delay.

The ministers noted with satisfaction the successful conclusion of phase I and phase II of the reconciliation process and officially launched the third and final phase of the Somali national reconciliation conference as of 22 may 2004.

The ministers agreed to hold their next meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on the 21st June 2004.

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