US conference on Somalia, Islamists not invited
Somalia-USA, Politics, 6/10/2006

The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonsény Fall, has held a series of high-level talks in Nairobi to discuss the political situation in the Somali capital Mogadishu, and what humanitarian assistance is needed by the people affected by the recent fighting there.

Fall met with Ambassadors and senior members of the international community in Nairobi and also held discussions with the Governor of Mogadishu, who briefed him on the situation in the capital and appealed for humanitarian and medical assistance, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters today.

After these talks, the Special Representative arrived today in Hargeisa in the Somaliland region of the country where he is meeting with local authorities, the spokesman said, adding that the envoy is travelling with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche.

Meantime, a Washington Post report noted that the success of the Islamic militants in bringing peace where others have failed, adding that the conflict now among the Islamist groups is between "religious moderates who want to restore traditional Somali society or those seeking a strict, Taliban-like Islamic republic."

US Department Of State spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday was asked that the Islamist forces " started talks with the Transitional Government. I just wondered have you made any advances towards the Islamists to discuss with them how to stabilize the region? I understand that there's some discussion on policy towards Somalia and how you can proceed possibly in a more coherent way."

McCormack said "in terms of the situation on the ground, again we've talked about this before. I don't have perfect visibility into the exact situation on the ground. I understand in general that what you have described is in fact true; that there were advances outside of Mogadishu. And in terms of contacts between the Transitional Federal Institutions and the Islamic Courts, I don't have good -- a good picture into that right now. We have not -- we talked, I think yesterday or the day before about the fact that there was -- I think it was the day before -- about this open letter. We have not yet responded to it. I've said that we are reserving judgment at this point."

He added "In terms of other activities that we are taking, there is one bit of news I do have for you. We are going to be -- we are calling for the convening of a Somalia contact group. The Somalia contact group the week of June 12th, next week, up in New York City. And the goal of this group is to promote concerted action and coordination to support the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions. So we're going to be working with other interested states, international organizations on this matter and talking about how we might coordinate our efforts in a concerted way to support those Transitional Federal Institutions."

IMcCormack said it is unlikely that the Islamists would be invited to the conference, but that "we don't have the full invite list yet."

Previous Stories:
  AU president: US should not support to warlords in Somalia   (6/7/2006)
  Somalia Islamic forces urged to talks   (6/6/2006)
  Somali capital under Islamic militia control   (6/5/2006)
  Parliamentary elections held September 29 in Somalia region   (10/4/2005)
  United States supports functioning government in Somalia   (9/21/2005)

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