Somaliland government makes new rules regarding Somaliland-Somalia dialogue

Hargeisa, (SomalilandDaily) – The Council of Ministers of Somaliland chaired by the president yesterday held a meeting at the Presidential Palace attended by the vice president and cabinet ministers where it made decisions regarding Somaliland and Somalia dialogue, the operations of diplomats, and international humanitarian and developmental organizations.

A press statement issued by the spokesperson of the president in the Somali language states that the cabinet made the following resolutions:

1. Somaliland is ready to continue the Somaliland and Somalia dialogue, which should be held at a neutral venue with a clear agenda touching future relations, and the international community should serve as mediators. Also, there should be guarantors to avoid any party breaching agreements.
2. Somalia should admit that Somaliland is an independent country that gained independence on 26th June 1960 and later formed a union with Somalia on 1st July 1960 and that Somaliland and Somalia were two different countries historically and administratively. Therefore, the dialogue between the two parties should start as one between two sovereign States.
3. Somalia should not be represented in the dialogue by individuals and politicians hailing from Somaliland, and who are holding positions in Somalia or who are against the statehood and existence of the Republic of Somaliland.
4. The international community should treat Somaliland as an independent country which is not part of Somalia. Therefore, ambassadors and delegates from states, international intergovernmental organizations, and institutions that operate inside the Republic of Somaliland should respect the statehood of Somaliland, operate as per the laws of Somaliland, and they should neither violate the territorial, airspace nor land borders of the Republic of Somaliland.
5. [International] Organisations should use the name, map, emblem and flag of Somaliland in their project documents. Any projects to be implemented must be based on agreements entered with Somaliland. Lastly, no one can implement projects without permission from relevant and appropriate Somaliland government authorities.