REPUBLIC
OF SOMALILAND
PRESS
RELEASE
Presidency
Hargeisa
Republic of Somaliland
Sunday 27
August 2000
On
Saturday, 26 August 2000, the so called "Transitional
National Assembly" members in Arta, Republic of Djibouti,
appointed a man to become what they call the "next president
of Somalia". The man appointed at Arta himself claimed that
he will be a president for "the former Italian territory of
Somalia" and Somaliland.
As the
people and the Government of Somaliland have stated clearly
before, and since Somaliland did not take part in this exercise
nor has been represented in any capacity, government or civilian,
the appointment does not concern Somaliland. The position of
Somaliland Republic has been all along that the conference at
Djibouti deal with the issue of peace and reconciliation in "the
former Italian territory
of Somalia"
and not concern Somaliland. Our hopes were that a government
representing "the
former Italian territory of
Somalia" alone with a broad support will be formed, after
which Somaliland and "the
former Italian territory of
Somalia" should have discussions about their future
relationship.
The Republic
of Somaliland wishes to make its position clear:
- Somaliland
will only discuss future relations with a broad based
government of "the
former Italian territory of"
Somalia which is democratically elected and accepted by all
the population of "the former Italian territory of"
Somalia and which is in complete control of its territories.
-
Somaliland
will not meet with a government or parliament that includes
individuals claiming to represent Somaliland.
This being
the position of Somaliland, it is worth mentioning that a
significant and influential number of the participants of the Arta
conference held high positions in the government of Mohamed Siad
Barre. Some of these were directly or indirectly responsible for
the brutal massacres in Somaliland of the victims whose remains so
often we find in unmarked shallow mass graves. These victims
included children, young people and elderly of both sexes alike,
tied together in tens and shot through the back of the head. The
Government of Somaliland forwarded the list of the war criminals
responsible for these crimes to the International Human Rights and
asked them to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Such names
include General Morgan and General Gani who are today taking
pivotal roles in the Arta conference. It is impossible for the
people and the Government of Somaliland to meet such men in any
conference and discussion.