Somalia has best chance to end conflict, UN
New York, 06 Mar – (ANA) - Somalia currently has the best opportunity to end its two decades-long conflict and bring lasting peace and stability to the country, but doing so will require greater efforts by all parties and sustained support from international community, the UN Security Council has heard. The country’s Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) are in the process of implementing a roadmap devised in September last year that spells out priority measures to be carried out before the current transitional governing arrangements end on 20 August.
Before then, Somalia needs a new constitution, a smaller and more representative Parliament and elections for the positions of President, Speaker and Deputies.
“Ending the transition on time will require more efforts and support from all international actors in the coming months,” Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, told the Council via
video-link from the country. “We must ensure that all of us are pulling together in this regard.” He pointed out that the drafting of the constitution has to be completed by the end of this month. The selection process to the 1,000-member Constituent Assembly from over eight community-based constituencies, including women, must be completed in eight weeks for the provisional adoption of the constitution by the end of April. (ANA)
FA/ANA/06 March 2012---------