BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS: DJIBOUTI PEACE CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANTS URGE SOMALILAND TO PARTICIPATE
98% match; BBC Monitoring Service -
United Kingdom ; 27-Mar-2000 12:00:00 am ; 287 words
Text of report by Somaliland newspaper `Jamhuuriya' on 27th March
A preliminary meeting which is a precursor to the Djibouti peace conference has
released a statement on the state of affairs in Somaliland.
The statement, which was released at the ongoing meeting scheduled to close today, was
sent to us by 'Jamhuuriya' reporter Si'id Isma'il Guraase. It said:
"We as participants in the conference of Somali experts believe the following:
1. In spite of the fact that the Somali people have suffered a great deal under the
Somali government, we admit that the scope of suffering undergone by the people of
northern Somalia (Somaliland) has been greater than that of
other regions.
2. The Somali people who reside in northern Somalia
(Somaliland) deserve praise because of the enduring peace which has brought tranquility
and brotherhood to the clans that coexist there.
3. That the Somali people who were unified in 1960 should kindheartedly and amicably
reach agreement on their political destiny.
Moving on from the above we would want to state the following:
1. As participants and experts working on the success of the Djibouti peace conference
who share the feelings of the Somali people, and as intellectuals and brothers who are
hurt by the persecution carried out by the [former] Somali government, we concur that the
people of Somaliland deserve an apology.
2. That action should be taken to solve problems that have faced the people of northern
Somalia in particular.
3. That the perpetrators who have committed major crimes against the Somaliland people
should be charged for the sake of justice and deterred from such actions in future.
4. The political destiny of Somalia is dependent on the
preservation of the rights and interests of the Somali people.
5. As participants in the conference, we urge our brothers in Somaliland to take part
in the conference which will deliberate on the future of Somalia.
Source: `Jamhuuriya', Hargeysa, in Somali 27 Mar 00 p 1