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Nairobi, (insidesomalia.org)-Interview with UN Envoy to Somalia Ahmed Ould Abdallah UN Envoy to Somalia Ahmed Ould Abdallah said he is waiting for the transitional Somali Government and the opposition alliance, which is based in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, to provide him with a list of the delegation members who will participate in the expected UN-sponsored peace negotiations to end the civil war in Somalia.
In an exclusive telephone interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat, the former Mauritanian diplomat who was speaking from his office in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, said he recently held talks with the two sides.
He added that the Somali Prime Minister, Col Nur Hassan Hussein (Adde), presented him last month with a plan to hold negotiations with the opposition to establish peace.
He noted that Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and Parliament Speaker Adan Madubi have approved the plan. The UN envoy to Somalia said:
"For my part, I invited the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia to come to Nairobi. They are now here and faced no problem in getting visas and entering Kenya.
They were expelled from here two years ago." He added that he proposed to the delegation of the alliance, which is led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, leader of the opposition and former president of the Islamic Courts, a "peaceful way to negotiate with the transitional authority, so that Somalia may return to the international arena, instead of becoming an example of a failed state." Ould Abdallah asserted he sensed that the opposition has a new tendency to accept peace with the government.
He noted that the presence of the alliance's delegation in Nairobi is a positive development that shows their readiness to accept a peaceful solution.
The following is the text of the interview: (Awsat) I understood that you are awaiting a list of the names of the government and opposition delegation members to the proposed negotiations.
(Ould Abdallah) That is true. I asked each party to send a list of the names of persons who will represent them at the peace talks, so that we may talk to them and discuss their problems. At this stage, our aim is to first find a venue or state to hold these talks. However, the problem is that the civil war in Somalia lasted 17 years, and reaching a solution is now a problem.
As the situation stands now, war is easier, while peace has become a problem for a large number of Somali political and military leaders.
(Awsat) Have you secured the Asmara alliance's support for your plan? (Ould Abdallah) I learned that they are now ready for new negotiations to reach a peaceful solution. We believe that this stand will be in the interest of their country.
(Awsat) When do you expect the negotiations to begin? (Ould Abdallah) I already began negotiations with the two sides.
From my point of view, however, it is necessary to assess and change the agenda of the previous negotiations that used to last a year or two.
I believe that lengthy negotiations are not necessary and not positive.
Essentially, what is required is for all parties to negotiate in two or three weeks.
(Awsat) So, you want stepped up and condensed peace negotiations, free of the traditional form to which the Somalis are accustomed.
(Ould Abdallah) Yes. Exactly. It is necessary for Somalia and the international community to replace the old policies with new negotiations to achieve a settlement, instead of engaging in negotiations for the sake of negotiations.
(Awsat) Do you believe that there is an opportunity to reach a solution? (Ould Abdallah) Yes. The Somalis and this transitional government have an opportunity to reach a political, rather than tribal solution. I have asked international parties to extend help, as they did in ending other African civil wars. In my opinion, however, a solution is now more difficult to reach than in the past. As an international community, it is now necessary for us to engage in new negotiations in a short period of time with a new vision.
(Awsat) How did the Somali parties concerned react?
(Ould Abdallah) All parties agreed to hold negotiations in a short period of time. Nevertheless, the problem is that they asked for time to consult with their groups. This request is understood quite well, and I am ready to help in this respect.
(Awsat) Do you expect these negotiations to be held soon?
(Ould Abdallah) If it were up to me, I would start them tomorrow. Unfortunately, however, it is necessary for the groups concerned and some friends of Somalia to discuss our initiative before practically launching it. The current talks are over an agenda, but the real negotiations will be held in two to three weeks' time. During that period, we will decide on the best duration and suitable venue of the negotiations.
(Awsat) But the opposition groups reject Ethiopia's participation and set a condition that the Ethiopian forces must withdraw.
(Ould Abdallah) According to my assessment, the best way to ensure the withdrawal of the Ethiopian and other foreign forces is to reach an agreement among the Somali parties. The key to these forces' departure is in the hands of the Somalis.
(Awsat) Is the Arab League involved in the process?
(Ould Abdallah) Yes. The talks with the Somali parties are held in the presence of the Arab League representative in Somalia, Ambassador Salim al-Khusaybi. He is an old friend, and we are in continuous contact.
(Awsat) Are we about to see peacekeeping forces replace the African Union troops, which the Somalis regard as ineffective?
(Ould Abdallah) From my point of view, the best impartial forces would be international and UN forces. However, presence of these forces requires a peace agreement. The Somalis must understand that no international forces will be deployed without peace. I spoke to both the government and opposition and told them that the first condition for the deployment of such forces is the establishment of peace. This means that all parties must agree on the principle of negotiations in order to reach a satisfactory solution.
Source: AAwsat
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