SOMALIA: PRESS STATEMENT ON SELECTING A PRESIDENT

UNCLAS STATE 009388

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL SO XA XW
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: PRESS STATEMENT ON SELECTING A PRESIDENT


1. Action Request: Department requests that USUN seek a UN
Security Council Press Statement welcoming the election of a
new President of the Transitional Federal Government of
Somalia at the earliest opportunity. USUN has the discretion
to either circulate the statement in paragraph 2 to the
Council for adoption or to give the statement to the British
for inclusion in their draft statement.


2. Begin statement: The members of the Security Council
welcomed the election by the Somalia Transitional Federal
Parliament of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as President of the
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The
members of the Security Council commended the newly-expanded
Parliament on its work in electing the new President.
The members of the Security Council expressed their
appreciation to all parties who contributed to this historic
event, including the work of the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah and the support
by President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti.

The members of the Security Council expressed their strong
support for the peace process and for this important step
towards a political settlement in Somalia. To this end,
Council members called upon President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed to constitute a Government of National Unity. Council
members called on all Somalis to support the Transitional
Federal Institutions as peace and reconciliation efforts go
forward. The Council strongly condemned terrorist
organization al-Shabab, in particular, for continuing to
target the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

The members of the Security Council commended AMISOM for its
important work. Council members expressed their concern
regarding the humanitarian situation in Somalia and condemned
violence directed at civilians, AMISOM and humanitarian
personnel. End statement.


3. Please report action to IO/UNP action officer Joseph
Fitzgerald (fitzgeraldjjo@state.gov or 202-647-2641.)
CLINTON