I would like
to begin by congratulating Mr. Ali Treki on his election
as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session. We are confident that the international
community will greatly benefit from his experience
and wisdom on the political and human fronts, and at
the local and international levels. I also take this
opportunity warmly to thank the Secretary-General and
all Governments, international organizations and
permanent members who have offered support and
have promoted peace and stability in Somalia, and who
have delivered to our country the aid necessary to
protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.
I wish to express our condolences to the families
of those who have lost their lives in defence of peace
and stability in Somalia. I would particularly like to
thank the African Union, which has made tremendous
sacrifices for the cause of peace in Somalia.
I would now like to talk about the efforts and
progress made by the Government of Somalia since it
came to power through the Djibouti peace process —
progress made despite the enormous difficulties and
challenges facing the Somali nation, particularly given
that it was established after 18 years of anarchy and
chaos. My Government’s priorities include improving
the security situation, promoting efforts towards
reconciliation and providing essential humanitarian
assistance to the displaced and the suffering in our
country.
Unfortunately, however, the rebels are
endeavouring to overthrow the Somali Government,
which is still taking its first steps in achieving security.
These rebel elements have conducted a violent
insurrection against the Government, fuelled by the
negative effects and consequences of the past 18 years,
which are further compounded by prevailing high
unemployment and our country’s weakness in the field
of security. It is clear that extremist foreign elements
have joined the ranks of the insurgency and some of
these foreign extremists hold key rebel leadership
positions.
I would like to recall that we thwarted the
attempted coup d’état perpetrated by the rebels against
the Government. We believe that we were able to
prevail thanks, first and foremost, to God, and then
through the efforts of our Government and people and
the help we received from the international community
and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
We are currently endeavouring to promote and bolster
the Somali security forces, to create new naval forces
and a new coast guard to tackle the problem of piracy,
which continues to threaten international shipping in
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. However,
despite all our achievements we still have a long road
to travel.
Rebellion in Somalia is a new form of insurgency
that is emerging in the world today. This rebellion is
conducted by foreign and Somali extremists who are
against Islam, against peace, against security and
against stability. They are spoilers who sow destruction
and take exploit the chaos and anarchy that have
existed in Somalia since 1991.
We suggest that what is happening in Somalia
should not be underestimated or taken lightly. The
international community should take prompt and
decisive steps to ensure that our people are not held
hostage by these extremist groups who are working
against our freedom and our destiny. From this rostrum
I would like to state that if the world does not
comprehend the gravity of what is happening in
Somalia, then the consequences will be very harmful.
The troubles we are experiencing threaten to proliferate
into neighbouring countries and indeed throughout the
world.
The problem of international terrorism is not
confined to Somalia and this problem should be
addressed at the international level.
19 09-52463
I turn now to the issue of piracy, which has
recently become a matter of major concern for the
international community. The phenomenon of piracy is
closely linked to the current security situation in
Somalia. As a result, as long as the security situation in
Somalia remains unchanged, piracy will continue in
one way or another. We would like to say, however,
that there has of late been a reduction of piracy as a
result of collective international endeavours. Still, it
remains essential to make additional efforts to combat
piracy.
Toxic waste sunk off the Somali coast, unlawful
fishing and the pillaging of national wealth are a
violation of Somali sovereignty and cause considerable
damage, which has a negative effect on the
environment through the pollution caused.
We are resolved to engage in a political dialogue
that is open to all Somali stakeholders, including the
armed rebels.
We are determined to sit down at the negotiating
table with all parties, even those who are against the
Government, any time and any place, in order to end
the conflict raging in our country. We will spare no
effort to end the conflict and find a lasting political
solution. We will ensure the security of our people and
protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, the extremists do not believe in the benefit of
any manner of dialogue or negotiation; they believe
only in guns and cannons.
We are ready to establish a firm foundation for an
open, transparent and participatory democratic political
system by creating sound democratic institutions that
reflect the collective political will and the cultural
values of the Somali people. That system will be based
on an institutional regime and constitutional
mechanisms designed to protect human rights and the
rule of law.
Similarly, we will foster genuine Islamic
principles that encourage tolerance, personal freedoms,
respect for individual rights and equal rights for all
under the law, without regard to gender, clan or ethnic
origin.
In addition, we will work tirelessly towards
establishing a free-market economic system to attract
foreign direct investment and encourage private
ownership. The system we will introduce will have
sound and effective financial institutions with strong
built-in anti-corruption mechanisms.
We will use all available means to rebuild a
national Somali State that is at peace with itself, with
its neighbours and with the international community.
Furthermore, we intend to cooperate closely with the
international community in the security sphere.
At this trying moment in history, Somalia
urgently needs the support and assistance of the
international community, in particular in the form of
security and humanitarian aid. Since 1991, Somalia has
not enjoyed peace, stability or security. Thus, it has
been difficult to achieve social and economic
development and to protect human rights.
Security and stability may be established if
certain essential measures are taken, including
promotion of the security and police components, the
judiciary and administrative institutions. African Union
troops should be increased to a necessary level and
augmented by other troops, provided that they are
sufficiently funded, trained and equipped to carry out
their task. In order to restore security in Somalia, those
measures must be implemented decisively and as soon
as possible.
In the context of humanitarian assistance, it must
be emphasized that the situation of refugees, both
within Somalia and outside its borders, continues to
deteriorate. There are nearly 3.8 million people in the
country requiring humanitarian assistance. Our people
are experiencing a real humanitarian tragedy that is
compounded by several years of drought. Humanitarian
access to those in need is considerably hampered by
the security situation that has deteriorated as a result of
the conflict.
In connection with Security Council resolutions
on the arms embargo, I urge the Council to reconsider
the matter and appeal to it to assist us in strengthening
our security forces without which any endeavour to
rebuild infrastructure and achieve security and stability
in Somalia will be impossible.
On the donors conference held in Brussels in
April 2009 pursuant to Security Council resolution
1863 (2009), we wish to ask donor countries which
have made funds available to Somalia to speed up the
allocation of additional funding. I also urge United
09-52463 20
Nations Member States and Security Council members
to take further measures to support the Republic of
Somalia more effectively in order to end the
intransigence of the extremists and to ensure that no
further obstacles exist to rehabilitating Somalia and
rebuilding its infrastructure so that we can bring an end
to the genuine daily tragedy of the people in Somalia.
We firmly believe that our progress on security is
likely to enable us to counter the negative economic
and social impacts of the chaotic events of the past
18 years. Somalia would be in a position to revive the
entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Somalia. We
have already begun to make tangible progress with
remittances from Somalis abroad. If Somalia enjoyed
some level of stability and security our economy could
progress reasonably in the coming years. In any event,
peace, stability and development are all interlinked;
there can be no peace without development or
development without peace and stability.
The worldwide economic decline has severely
affected the people of Somalia and has placed an
additional burden on their shoulders. From this
rostrum, we reiterate our appeal for joint, urgent action
for Somalia. I stand before the Assembly fully
confident in the future of Somalia. It is a country with
vast natural and human resources. We believe and we
are confident that, with support, we will be able to
make genuine and concrete progress.