Somalia - No Cease Fire in Joint Communique

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002233 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KDEM EAID EWWT SO SUBJECT: Somalia - No Cease Fire in Joint Communique ¶1. From October 17-21 Transitional Federal Government and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia joint High Level and Security committees met in Djibouti to advance implementation of June 9 peace agreement. At the conclusion of the meetings, the parties issued a communique, the text of which follows in paragraph two. ¶2. Embassy comment will follow after consultations with the UN Political Office for Somalia and signatory parties. We note, however, the communique does not include an expected ceasefire declaration per se; rather, item four calls for further discussion of a cease fire within 15 days "following field assessments and assessments...to jointly develop viable technical modalities for...implementation." The joint committees also pledged to reconvene within 30 days. Begin Communique Text: ¶1. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) held a second round of meetings of the High Level Committee and the Joint Security Committee in Djibouti from 17 to 21 September 2008. The international community, including the United Nations, diplomats from regional organizations (African Union, European Union, League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Conference) and individual countries, as well as representatives of Somali civil society, attended. ¶2. The two Committees continued their discussions on practical means of implementing the Djibouti Agreement. ¶3. The Parties agreed to continue the political dialogue between themselves and make efforts to move forward on issues relating to political cooperation, reconciliation, justice and human rights. The Parties agreed to work together through sub-committees to address issues of institutional capacity building, constitution, humanitarian issues and recovery, reconstruction and development. ¶4. The Parties agreed to conduct field assessments and consultations as well as meet within 15 days to jointly develop viable military technical modalities for the implementation of the ceasefire. ¶5. They welcomed all efforts undertaken by Somali nationals inside and outside Somalia, as well as those of the international community, particularly the International Contact Group for Somalia to help implement the Djibouti Agreement. ¶6. The Parties agreed to form a Board as a mechanism to facilitate and coordinate the response to the humanitarian situation. They call on the international community to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the needy people of Somalia. The Parties reaffirmed their strong determination to help ensure unhindered humanitarian access and assistance. ¶7. The Parties reassure the Somali population on their determination to strengthen their commitment for peace, stability, unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and dignity in Somalia. ¶8. The Parties again thank the Government and people of Djibouti for their hospitality during the meetings of the High Level Committee and the Joint Security Committee. ¶9. The Parties express their appreciation to the UN Special Representative Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah for his commitment and tireless efforts in moving the Somali peace process forward as well as the international community for its generous support and invite it to continue supporting the Djibouti Agreement. ¶10. The next meeting of the High Level and Joint Security Committees will take place within 30 days. Djibouti 21 September 2008 End Communique Text RANNEBERGER