NAIROBI, (insidesomalia.org) - The United Nations' Special Envoy to Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has sent out a special request to the Somali people in the Diaspora to support the ongoing peace process to help save the country.

In a signed statement released from his office in Nairobi, the envoy further thanked the Somalis in the Diaspora for their continued support for the country and their unrelenting show of patriotism to support the processes being put in place to lift the Horn of Africa nation out of its current state of devastating violence.

“I am writing to thank you, the members of the Somali Diaspora, for your continuing patriotic support for your country. I have met many of you in Dubai, Kenya, Norway, Sweden and the US and plan to meet others in the UK, Canada and elsewhere in the near future," Mr. Ould-Abdallah said in his statement.

The UN diplomat further thanked and congratulated the Somali Diaspora for looking beyond clan considerations for the good of the country as a whole. In his appeal, he further called on the Somali people to take full responsibility for the past and the future of the country.

He reiterated the importance of the remittances the Somali Diaspora sends back to the country, saying it was a major contributor to the stabilization of the country's fragile economy.

“Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you for looking beyond the issue of tribes to strive for the good of Somalia as a whole and for your ability to take responsibility for the past and future of the country instead of simply blaming others. The remittances that you send back home on a regular basis are appreciated as a major contribution to the country’s economy”, the UN Special Envoy added in his statement.

In the statement, Mr. Ould-Abdallah indicated that he w ould be organizing a technical meeting to bring together the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re- Liberation of Somalia in Djibouti beginning May 10, 2008.

“I believe that together with other committed Somalis we can contribute to a peaceful, prosperous and stable Somalia,” the Special Envoy's statement read.

Source: Garowe Online