Storbritannien genåbner som første EU-land sin ambassade i Somalia, hvor bygningen længe henlå som en ruin – briterne er også værter for en international konference om det kaosramte afrikanske lands fremtid, som foregår tirsdag d. 7. maj i London.
LONDON, 25 April 2013: UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has travelled to Somalia to open a new British Embassy in Mogadishu.
This will be the first time the UK has an Embassy in Somalia since 1991 when the Embassy was closed and the Ambassador and his staff evacuated, writes the British Government´s website. UK will be the first EU country to re-open an Embassy in Somalia.
The Foreign Secretary was joined at the opening by the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The Foreign Secretary and the President also discussed the Somalia Conference taking place in London on 7 May.
Speaking from the new Embassy site, the Foreign Secretary said:
“I am delighted to announce that today, 22 years after we evacuated our diplomats from Mogadishu, we are raising the Union Jack to mark the formal opening of a new British Embassy”.
“Somalia has been through a dramatic shift over the last year but continues to face huge challenges. We should be under no illusions as to the sustained efforts that will be required, in Somalia and from its international partners, to ensure that Somalia continues to make progress.
“We will continue to work closely with the Somalia Government on shared priorities, which include tackling conflict, countering terrorism and piracy, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting UK interests in Somalia and the region.”
The Embassy has been built on a site leased to British Government by the Federal Government of Somalia.
The Foreign Secretary continued:
“Next month, the Prime Minister and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will co-host a Conference in London which aims to provide international support for the President’s priorities of creating security, rebuilding the justice system, and reforming government finances – se mere om konferencen på
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/somalia-conference-2013
Læs videre på
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-opens-new-british-embassy-in-mogadishu
Begynd fra: “I met President Hassan earlier today to discuss the Conference, and also….”
