S/PV.6313 Security Council

On behalf of the Security Council, I extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Ould Abdallah to take a seat at the Council table. I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from His Excellency Mr. Pedro Serrano, in which he requests to be invited, in his capacity as acting head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to His Excellency Mr. Pedro Serrano. There being no objection, it is so decided. I invite Mr. Serrano to take the seat reserved for him at the side of the Council Chamber. I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, in which he requests that the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, be invited to participate in the consideration of the item in accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 to Mr. Lamamra. There being no objection, it is so decided. I invite Mr. Lamamra to take the seat reserved for him at the side of the Council Chamber. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. I wish to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/2010/234, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on Somalia. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Ould Abdallah. I now give the floor to Mr. Ould Abdallah. Mr. Ould Abdallah: During my first presentation on Somalia to this Council on 17 December 2007 (see S/PV.5805), I proposed three options for addressing the situation: business as usual, a total withdrawal from Somalia, or simultaneous action in the political, security and development fields. I would like, in that connection, to thank the Secretary-General and Under- Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe for their continued understanding and support for Somalia. In particular, I welcome their confidence that the United Nations should and can move beyond the status quo to really make a difference in the future of Somalia and to strengthen the Organization’s image in Africa and beyond. One important example in support of the third option is the Secretary-General’s engagement with the Government of Turkey to co-convene next week’s Istanbul conference on Somalia. Despite some suggestions that it is either too early or too late for such a high-level gathering, we should all recognize that, after years of anarchy, there will never be a right time in Somalia. We have to act now. The Istanbul conference comes one year after the Secretary-General convened the Brussels conference, at which $213 million were pledged to help the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) make progress in strengthening their security. During the Brussels conference, the Secretary-General was able to count on strong support from the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and several countries, in particular Japan, Norway and the United States. Such support, and that of others, is equally needed today for a successful Istanbul Conference. As a follow-up to Brussels, more troops are being trained inside and outside Somalia. The ongoing training in Uganda is a joint operation between Africa, the EU and the United States, with 2,000 troops being prepared in two batches. In that context, the new Somali Army Chief of Staff, a well-respected career officer, needs strong and unwavering support from his Government and must be helped to organize his work and his forces without excessive internal or external interference. His colleagues heading the police force deserve similar assistance. It the context of training, I would like to add that I am grateful to France for having initiated the first training operation with Djibouti last year. Likewise, the African Union Mission in Somalia, which now numbers just under 7,000 and still needs many more battalions, should be strengthened and, at the same time, helped to carry out its duties of protecting federal institutions and assisting the needy. Where the international community can help is in providing equipment and salaries, at least for one year, for those forces that have been properly trained. The memorandum of understanding signed recently between the African Union, IGAD and my office in Nairobi should contribute to facilitating that undertaking. On the political front, despite working under difficult conditions, the TFG needs to show strength in unity, determination in action and a common purpose in its policies. It should prioritize its actions, concentrating on those that are essential for the population and leaving aside less urgent ones. For its part, the international community can help by implementing its commitments, especially in the disbursement of pledged resources. There should be a temporary halt in the spending of funds and energy on strategies and road maps in order to allow a re-examination of our achievements. The TFG has succeeded in reaching out to other groups committed to peace and stability. An agreement has been signed with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a — a key religious and resistance movement — that could provide a blue print for future agreements. I would like to reiterate here that the door to peace is open to all Somalis wishing to end the agony of their country. A memorandum of understanding signed with Puntland on piracy-related issues is also of significant importance. Piracy is a criminal activity that is increasingly being carried out far from Somalia’s coastline and is encouraged by the payment of huge ransoms. The international maritime presence — Operation Atalanta, NATO and other national navies — has certainly served to deter some pirates, has succeeded in arresting others and is most welcome. However, there is consensus that much more could be done. First, we need to support, strengthen and empower the TFG and other authorities, in particular through employment schemes for youth in affected communities. Secondly, we should also consider a new initiative. Those countries known to be fishing in Somali waters should agree to pay a licensing fee, with the revenue generated put into a form of escrow account. The revenue collected would be used by the authorities after clearance by the account’s Somali and international management. That approach would certainly be better for all than the current situation, in which licensing money is apparently paid to certain individuals but fails to reach the legitimate authorities. I invite serious reflection and action on this matter. Meanwhile, inside Somalia the humanitarian situation remains horrendous, despite the laudable work of the World Food Programme and other agencies, including UNICEF. It cannot and should not be tolerated. At the same time, we should not ignore the fact that continued impunity is fuelling this tragedy. The humanitarian and human rights situations are part and parcel of the same problem and should be addressed simultaneously. Shedding more light on the humanitarian and human rights crisis is a key ingredient in the long march towards peace in Somalia. With all international agencies working together, harmonizing their thinking and actions, the international community can integrate its policies and strengthen its results. Furthermore, once Governments, development agencies, business associations and non-governmental organizations act together, they can help to bring about a major move away from past practices of managing the status quo. In that context, the Istanbul Conference comes at the right time. It shows Somalis and their leaders that there are persons, countries and organizations that are genuinely ready and committed to working with them for peace and stability. Along with the Secretary-General, I would like once more to thank the Government of Turkey for its important initiative. As I indicated earlier, I have always said that the peace process is based on three interrelated pillars: reconciliation, security and development. They should be addressed simultaneously. In those three areas, it is widely recognized that one of Somalia’s main assets is its vibrant business community, both inside and outside the country. That community can be a force for good, and we should help it to work constructively. Istanbul will provide an exceptional opportunity to do so. The Conference is, first and foremost, a show of political solidarity with the Somali people, who have suffered so much and have been taken hostage by various groups and individuals. The Conference is also a message of hope to Somalis that they are not alone. In addition to addressing security issues and global threats, including piracy, the Conference will also provide a platform for the Somali private sector, international business and Governments to launch new initiatives for reconstruction and job creation. Those are indeed significant challenges, although they can be overcome with adequate action. Through public and private partnerships, we can begin to make a difference in the international perception and image of Somalia and, consequently, in the lives of its people. This is the place to reiterate that if we want to make a decisive difference, there is no alternative to moving the international community to Mogadishu to be closer to the victims. Remote control from Nairobi is not leading to progress. If we do not make the right commitments and take the right action in Somalia now, sooner or later the situation will force us to act, and at a much higher price. One of the most effective actions we can take in Somalia is to support the Government in a concrete manner and, at the same time, ask it to deliver effectively. On the other hand, those countries and individuals who behave like salesmen touting peace conferences for every country in conflict, including Somalia, can only damage the prospects for peace and stability by inciting extremists the world over to be more radical and by granting them veto power over the future of the peoples. The Istanbul Conference will provide us with an exceptional opportunity to show that Somalia has true friends ready to make a difference. In this year, when the country celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of independence, the support of the Secretary-General, the Government of Turkey and the entire Security Council is much needed and is very welcome by the Government, the Somali people and the region.

I thank Mr. Ould Abdallah for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia.

I would like at the outset to seize this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to you, Mr. President, for enabling us to participate in this discussion on the situation in Somalia. I would also like to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. It is incumbent upon my Government and my people to thank the Security Council for its unwavering support to Somalia’s peace and reconciliation efforts. The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the immense challenges it faces notwithstanding, continues to provide the leadership and wisdom required in advancing peace and stability in the country. But the Government’s commitment to peace and dialogue and its determination to rebuild a nation shattered by a prolonged crisis are being hampered by a group of terrorists with links to Al-Qaida. Nonetheless, the Government, with the support of the international community, will continue to provide coordinated, timely and sustained engagement with a view to countering the insurgency and to bringing lasting peace and security to the entire nation. The insurgents’ plan to overthrow the Government of national unity and their attempt to foment further destabilization and chaos in the country have been foiled. What we are witnessing in Somalia now, following the successful efforts for the implementation of the Djibouti peace process, is an inclusive political process with broad-based support. The President, the Speaker of Parliament, all the members of Parliament, the Prime Minister and his cabinet are all operating in Mogadishu. I am pleased to reiterate to the Security Council that the leadership of the Government of national unity in Somalia has succeeded in exercising its mandate with a great deal of responsibility and devotion. It has embraced the principles of collective leadership and has successfully shattered anything that would potentially elicit differences and undermine cohesiveness and unity among members of the Cabinet, on the one hand, and between the Government and Parliament, on the other. The current discussion that is now taking place between members of the Transitional Federal Parliament must not be construed as bickering. It is an exercise of the democracy that is being resuscitated in Somalia, which we trust will strengthen our national institutions and safeguard their political legitimacy. Somalia, under the leadership of the current Transitional Federal Government, has made significant headway with regard to reconciliation. Important members of Hizbul Islam have embraced the Government’s efforts, agreed to support the Government and joined the cabinet. Moreover, some prominent Al-Shabaab commanders and their fighters have defiantly denounced violence publicly, condemned the crimes perpetrated by the radical extremists and subsequently decided to defect to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. Within the framework of my Government’s continued attempt to reach out to Somalis who have remained outside the Djibouti peace process, the Government signed, on 15 March 2010, at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, a cooperation agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. This agreement provides for, among other important elements, the merging of Transitional Federal Government and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a forces to counter the insurgent menaces. Moreover, most of the provisions that have been agreed upon by both parties within the framework of the agreement are being implemented by my Government. The Government has succeeded in bringing about stability peacefully in certain regions of the country. It has been able to mediate between the leaders in the Galmudug regional administration, which is located in the central part of Somalia, and has convinced them to settle their differences and other contentious issues peacefully. Following this mediation, the leaders of the Galmudug regional administration, in the presence of the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, signed an agreement that has successfully ended their differences through compromises and concessions. In my Government’s effort to improve the security situation in the country, it has been able to reorganize the armed forces. Private militias and Government forces have been reintegrated, and are now part of the Somali national army. The Government has made the necessary changes in the leadership of the Somali national security forces to bring about a rapid transformation in the command and control of these forces. Likewise, the Government recently nominated the deputy commander of the Somali national army as part of the agreement package with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. These newly reintegrated forces have been engaged to carry out their national duties. The Government forces have recently gained ground, and this has led to the expulsion of Al-Shabaab from some of its strongholds in Mogadishu, namely Hodan, Howlwadaag, and the road that leads to the Bakara market, also known as Dabka Road — a very famous road. This successful offensive launched by our forces against the radical extremists has generated cautious optimism among our forces and constituted a relief for the forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which were subject to continuous attacks launched from those areas. The international community is seriously engaged in the training of security forces inside Somalia, Uganda and neighbouring countries. Also, we very much thank the French Government, which also took part in that training. While we appreciate and commend the efforts of Uganda and other neighbouring countries with regard to these training programmes, we believe that our troops would tend to be more effective if the training took place inside the country. Despite the serious engagement of AMISOM and its contribution to the attainment of peace and stability in Somalia, we believe that there is a need for the deployment of the remaining agreed strength of 8,000 AMISOM peacekeepers. We also believe that the deployment of adequate United Nations peacekeeping forces with a clear and relevant mandate and rules of engagement would contribute to the stabilization of Somalia and render AMISOM more effective. My Government contends that peace, stability and security are a sine qua non for any meaningful socio-economic development and for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations peacekeepers, if deployed, can achieve this with the help of the Government and AMISOM forces. Furthermore, my Government welcomes the deployment of forces from the East African Standby Brigade of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The military commanders of the Brigade recently visited Mogadishu to carry out assessments. We believe that their deployment will certainly enhance security in the country and contribute to the reconstruction of certain vital infrastructures. In terms of the constitution-making process, the Government has embarked with the relevant stakeholders on building the capacities of the institutions that will be involved in the preparation of the draft constitution. The new members of the Independent Federal Constitutional Commission have been sworn in. Various stakeholders are now brainstorming on the constitution-making process. Other priorities laid down by the Government with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis include the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy and the internally displaced; the formulation of a comprehensive national security strategy that would enable the Government to function more effectively in the midst of security threats unleashed by international terrorist groups; the consolidation of good governance, accountability, transparency and justice in the State institutions; the rebuilding of the infrastructure of the country that would ensure a sustainable economic recovery; the creation of alternative livelihood projects for the coastal communities and other areas to dissuade youth from piracy and other criminal activities, which we see as very important; and the strengthening of good relations, mutual understanding and cooperation among countries in the region. I call upon the Security Council to act because we in Somalia indeed count on it. We thank it for its unwavering support. Over the past two decades, we have had reports, missions, statements, assessments, embargoes and a proliferation of conferences on the situation in Somalia. We believe that it is high time that we come up with a paradigm shift that would look at the situation differently. It is our belief that, given meaningful collaboration in the security sector, we will be in a much better position to talk about and make progress in other important areas, such as humanitarian assistance, human rights, the prevention of piracy and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Finally, let me go on record in appealing to United Nations Members and the Security Council to take an urgent decision to support, unequivocally, the Government of Somalia so that it can provide for the people of Somalia effectively. I am obliged to repeat that any small, hesitant, half-hearted measures of help and protracted delays will only increase the intransigence of the extremist die-hard elements, and that the converse is true. One may say that there are challenges and risks in the Somalia situation, but there are also enormous opportunities. In our view, the opportunities in Somalia far outweigh the risks. We hope and pray that we achieve a new momentum. In that regard, we would like to cordially request that in future discussions on Somalia, the report of the Secretary-General be released in good time to enable all the stakeholders to have ample opportunity to discuss and consult as widely as possible within the framework of seeking solutions to the challenges facing Somalia, the region and, indeed, the international community.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union.

I have the honour and privilege of speaking to the Council on behalf of the African Union Commission, and I am very glad to do so under Lebanon’s presidency, a brother country whose issue contribute qualitatively to the economic dynamism of many African countries and brand the promising exchanges between Africa and the Arab world with their own brilliance. I thank you, Mr. President, for having invited me to take part in this debate on developments in the situation in Somalia, a country that belongs to the African and Arab groupings and whose emergence from crisis involves the entire international community. The year 2010 has been declared the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. It marks the fiftieth anniversary of Somalia’s accession to independence. Nothing could better symbolize the success of the many activities and increasing efforts that the African Union has undertaken throughout this year than Somalia’s decisive progress in promoting peace and reconciliation by fully restoring State authority through its territory and the ability of its institutions to exercise their sovereign prerogatives. Nothing would more fully repay the innovative partnerships that have been established between Africa and the United Nations, as well as between Africa and the relevant countries and organizations, than the significant strengthening of operational capacities and effective synergies among all the actors and factors that seek to address all the challenges posed by the situation in Somalia and their enduring effects on international peace and security. In fact, developments during the early months of the year show a generally positive trend towards achieving the goals whose attainment the international community is ensuring through its support for the ongoing action of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government under the authority of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and the particularly perilous but very necessary and important work being done by the brave Burundi and Ugandan peacekeepers deployed within the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The agreement signed on 15 March between the Transitional Federal Government and the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a movement at the headquarters of the African Union Commission can quite rightly be seen as a distinctive milestone in the strategic changes in the situation in Somalia. The agreement is of a character and scope that have considerable potential at the political, military and territorial levels and with regard to influencing the social, religious and cultural dynamics in the country. While slow and still insufficient in terms of the urgency and the extent of the needs, the positive effects of the international community’s multifarious contributions to Somalia’s institutions and AMISOM are beginning to be felt. Programmes and projects that should in time lead to a fundamental change in Somalia’s political and security landscape are being created or implemented. In that regard, the development of the Somali security forces through quality training, the provision of functioning equipment and the standardized management of their operation and the careers of their staff, must receive high priority. At the same time, the standardization of AMISOM’s logistical and operational norms and the conditions of service of its staff must be actively pursued to ensure that its change of status to a United Nations peacekeeping force is not unduly delayed for technical reasons. The situation in Somalia calls for comprehensive and agreed strategies so that all contributions will be complementary and mutually reinforcing. These strategies should give issues of security in the current context of Somalia the importance they deserve and must also include the rebuilding of the State and its institutions and administrative instruments, as well as renewed humanitarian action and the implementation of development projects. The mobilization of support for all of these purposes must increase. The follow-up to the Brussels conference; the Jeddah and Cairo meetings of the International Contact Group on Somalia which were facilitated by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, my friend Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, to whom I would like to pay a well-deserved tribute for all that he has done; the regular Addis Ababa meetings among the African Union, the United Nations, the troop-contributing countries and international partners; and the forthcoming Istanbul Conference: these are all to be welcomed for their importance and usefulness. The parallel activities on the issue of piracy at sea are also part of this same context insofar as the developing international consensus must focus on the elimination of the underlying causes of piracy, as well as proper coordination of the considerable naval forces deployed on the high seas with other forces that are also well endowed with the capacity to act and deter. AMISOM must be rapidly provided with such a capacity so that it can fight piracy and terrorism throughout its area of activity, including the maritime space of Somalia. As it marks its fiftieth anniversary this year, Somalia is at a crossroads. Much has been done by the international community and by the Somalis themselves; just as much remains to be done. The promotion of peace, security and reconciliation in Somalia is ongoing, even with imperfect execution and incompletely met goals. However, we must build on the progress made and the results achieved and open up new horizons for the role of the international community, and especially the role of the United Nations, in and around Somalia. Relocating the United Nations and African Union facilities to Mogadishu would be a significant step in that direction. For its part, the African Union will continue to share its vision and to make its contribution to increasing the effectiveness of our joint action and to bolster the credibility of our commitments through concrete results meeting the expectations of the Somali people and serving the comprehensive goals at stake in the situation in Somalia.

I thank Mr. Ramtane Lamamra for his statement. I shall now give the floor to members of the Security Council who wish to make statements.

I welcome First Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahim and Commissioner Lamamra to the Council this morning and thank them very much indeed for their briefings. I should also like to thank Mr. Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Special Representative, his team and all of the United Nations agencies active in Somalia. I would, however, like to register our disappointment that the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234) was issued less than 24 hours before this meeting; Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahim made this same point too. Somalia is one of the most complex issues on the Security Council’s agenda, and late reports do not help Council members take a considered view. The situation in Somalia remains of deep concern, with a worsening humanitarian situation and continuing instability. We strongly condemn attacks against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali people by armed groups, especially Al-Shabaab. We reiterate our support for the TFG and AMISOM. I pay particular tribute to Uganda and Burundi for their continuing commitment to this difficult operation. There has been important progress on a number of strands over the past few months, as some of the previous speakers have highlighted. We welcome the signing of an agreement with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a in March as an important step forward in terms of political reconciliation. But as the Secretary-General’s report highlights, the situation remains fragile. We now have only 15 months remaining of the transitional period as defined in the Djibouti Agreement. Important transitional tasks still need to be completed. It is crucial that all parties redouble their efforts to achieve greater progress towards a stable and peaceful Somalia. The instability in Somalia continues to have a significant destabilizing effect on the region and beyond. Somali extremists pose a serious threat to many countries, including the United Kingdom. We have seen close links between terrorists in Yemen and Somalia. Instability in Somalia hinders cooperation in the region on areas of common interest, promoting distrust rather than dialogue. Progress towards a peaceful, stable Somalia would allow the region to cooperate on the economic development that it so desperately needs. But the most serious impact is on the people of Somalia themselves. They have suffered for far too long. The humanitarian situation is appalling and continues to deteriorate. Attacks on aid compounds, worsening security conditions and the threats by Al-Shabaab, which led the World Food Programme to suspend its operations, have all compounded the problem. We home the World Food Programme can resume its work safely as soon as possible in order to deliver the aid which is so desperately needed. The United Kingdom is committed to supporting the TFG and AMISOM. Last year the United Kingdom contributed over £15 million to support AMISOM, £11.5 million in humanitarian aid and £26 million in development assistance. That is roughly equivalent to over $60 million in total. On piracy, the United Kingdom plays an important role in the European Union’s (EU) Operation Atalanta and we, of course, fully support the EU training mission currently underway in Uganda. In looking forward, I would make three points. First, we need a strong United Nations lead for our efforts in Somalia. We welcome the Secretary- General’s intention to review the role of the United Nations. This should lead to a more dynamic operation in Nairobi and a growing presence in Mogadishu, as both Special Representative Ould Abdallah and Commissioner Lamamra have said this morning. We do not underestimate the difficulties, but we need all parts of the United Nations working in an integrated manner to deliver a single strategy. Secondly, the United Nations cannot work alone so the international community needs to regalvanize its efforts in support of AMISOM and the TFG. We look forward to the Istanbul Conference on Somalia on 22 May, which we hope will demonstrate the international community’s continued support to the TFG and to United Nations leadership in Somalia. Thirdly, the future of Somalia lies, ultimately, in the hands of the Somali people. We welcome the progress made by the TFG over the past few months. We urge them to continue and intensify their efforts on dialogue, reconciliation, governance and security sector reform. We call on all parties fully to support the Djibouti peace process and join efforts to bring peace to Somalia. The clock is ticking, and we risk losing the rare moment of opportunity provided by the Djibouti Agreement.

Let me begin by thanking Special Representative Ould Abdallah for his informative briefing. Let me also welcome Somali Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahim and Environment Minister Hamza to the Security Council and commend them for their dedication to the people of Somalia. I would also like to welcome to the Council Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, and express our appreciation for the African Union’s work in Somalia. The United States continues to view the situation in Somalia with deep concern. Somalia’s stability depends on effective governance based on a process of inclusive political dialogue. As such, we underscore our support for the Djibouti peace process. The United States applauds the Transitional Federal Government for its recent efforts to build political support and cultivate stability, and we encourage the Transitional Federal Government to redouble those efforts. The Djibouti peace process should remain the primary focus. We urge all groups interested in peace to come to the table. The agreement with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a is an important step towards this goal. We welcome similar continued efforts to expand the Transitional Federal Government’s message of stability, responsibility and inclusiveness. We also welcome the recent memorandum of understanding signed with the “Puntland” administration on counter- piracy cooperation. We are similarly encouraged by the Transitional Federal Government’s progress in drafting a new constitution and its efforts to open new schools, improve hospitals and renovate police stations. The Transitional Federal Government must strive to make even more progress on both its federal and transitional agendas by providing basic social services, working to build an integrated security force, extending a consultative constitutional process, building alliances and providing political support to regions. We hope it will also focus on other important goals such as expanding revenue collection, ensuring that salaries are paid to its security forces and providing young people with employment opportunities that offer viable alternatives to extremism and militancy. The United States supports the upcoming United Nations development Conference on Somalia to be held in Istanbul in May with participation from the Somali diaspora. We commend the Turkish Government for its leadership on these critical issues, and we hope that this Conference will lead to critical investments in infrastructure and other projects that will provide Somali-led employment and training options for the Somali people. With greater security, the Transitional Federal Government could make even greater gains. Spoilers continue to destabilize Somalia and risk its future. Recently, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia listed several of these spoilers for targeted sanctions, including Al-Shabaab and some of its leaders. We urge all Member States to effectively implement the asset freeze, the travel ban and the targeted arms embargo against the listed individuals and Al-Shabaab. We also urge all Member States to ensure that the territorial arms embargo is being fully implemented. Supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is central to our strategy to stabilize Mogadishu and support the Somali peace process. AMISOM protects key installations in Mogadishu, offers political space for a Somali-led reconciliation process and provides security so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered. We commend Uganda and Burundi for their generous troop contributions to AMISOM, including the recent addition of a fourth Ugandan battalion; the Mission now has a force of 6,200, closer to its mandated strength of 8,000. We encourage other nations to step forward with additional contributions. The United States strongly supports AMISOM through funding for a logistical support package. Since AMISOM first deployed in 2007, the United States has obligated $174 million for logistical support, equipment and pre-deployment training to its forces. Both the Transitional Federal Government security forces and AMISOM have urgent equipment and training requirements that require donor support. The international community can express its gratitude to the troop-contributing countries by fulfilling the commitments made at the Brussels donor conference, including pledges to build the National Security Forces, the Somalia police force and the national security committee. The United States is prepared to do its part by providing pre-deployment training and equipment to willing AMISOM troop-contributing countries. The United States also continues to support the development of a professional, effective national security force. The international community must look for ways to safely make a greater impact within Somalia. We support the plans of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia to move towards a larger footprint in Somalia, which we believe will help the Transitional Federal Government make further progress. Reports about the more frequent recruitment and use of children as soldiers in Somalia are appalling and a cause for great concern. The United States strongly condemns the exploitation of children by these groups to pursue violent agendas, and we call upon all parties to immediately release the children within their ranks and provide for their proper reintegration into civilian life. Basic civil liberties such as freedom of speech must be respected. The recent murder of Sheikh Nur Mohamed Abkey, a 30-year veteran journalist killed in Somalia this month is a tragic affront. The United States condemns this crime in the strongest terms. We also condemn Al-Shabaab’s recent moves to restrict freedom of speech by ordering radio stations to stop broadcasting news and music. These moves demonstrate the increasing isolation of Somalia’s spoilers, who know that transparent political dialogue on the airwaves could eliminate their already meagre support. Somalia continues to face a dire humanitarian situation. More than 3.2 million people need both food and non-food assistance. Several factors — consecutive seasons which have failed or poor rainfall, ongoing conflict, rising inflation, displacement and outbreaks of disease — have combined to severely worsen food security and drive up rates of acute malnutrition. Lack of security and stability further worsens the humanitarian situation. The United States is committed to meeting the Somali people’s humanitarian needs. We condemn the obstruction of access to aid for more than 1 million Somalis, by Al-Shabaab and other violent extremists. The deteriorating security situation in southern and central Somalia has steadily eroded areas in which humanitarian groups can operate. Targeted attacks on aid workers and on United Nations facilities as well as kidnappings and extortion have hampered attempts to provide life-saving humanitarian aid. We call upon all parties to ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. For our part, the United States provide more than $150 million in food and non-food emergency assistance in 2009 to help meet the health, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene needs of the Somali population. The United States is committed to seeing peace and stability take hold in Somalia, for the Somali people, the region and the world. We encourage the Transitional Federal Government to keep up its momentum and to continue to chart a steady course towards the peaceful and prosperous future that Somalia deserves.

I would like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman A. Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia. I also extend our thanks to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234). I also welcome Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. Of late, we have observed quite a number of positive developments in and concerning Somalia. The signing of the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a on 15 March is undoubtedly the most notable. It is an important achievement and a result of the Transitional Federal Government’s (TFG) efforts to reach out to all groups in the country. The full and speedy implementation of the agreement will be a crucial step, among others, to confirm what the international community has been saying: that there is no military solution to the Somali question, and the only road to a peaceful future is through the Djibouti peace process. This message must be repeated and firmly conveyed. Despite the positive developments, the remaining challenges facing Somalia are far from negligible. Insecurity continues to be widespread in the country. My delegation is disturbed by the fact that attacks on civilians, human rights violations and acts of cruelty against women and children are, unfortunately, daily occurrences. Threats against humanitarian assistance, especially the blocking of World Food Programme operations in Somalia, are totally unacceptable. We commend the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the crucial role it plays towards achieving stability in Somalia. We thank all troop- and police-contributing countries, especially Uganda and Burundi. We encourage the Department of Field Support to continue its support to AMISOM so that it can effectively implement its mandate. Expeditious deployment of the logistical support package is undoubtedly vital in that regard, yet one should not expect AMISOM to provide security alone. Therefore, it is also of crucial importance that the Somali security institutions be strengthened. Successful completion of the transition in Somalia can be achieved only if the necessary political and security conditions are created, through targeted efforts coordinated between the Transitional Federal Government and the international community. The Transitional Federal Government, which Turkey fully supports and which it considers to be the only legitimate authority in Somalia, should continue its efforts to become more functional, while assertively pursuing its outreach policy vis-à-vis the opposition groups. One other critical task that the Transitional Federal Government should also complete is the drafting of a constitution. The progress achieved to date is promising in that regard. Equally important is the maintenance of the support provided to Somalia by the international community. What has been accomplished so far is the outcome of our coordinated efforts over the past couple of years. These should be sustained. Turkey believes that stability in Somalia can be consolidated only if the gains in the political and security fields are supported by reconstruction activities. That said, I would like to touch upon the Somalia conference which Turkey will host in Istanbul. The Istanbul Conference on Somalia will be jointly organized by the United Nations and the Turkish and Somali Governments, with the participation of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, from 21 to 23 May. The high-level part of the Conference, which is expected to be attended by a number of heads of State or Government and Foreign Ministers, is aimed at demonstrating the commitment of the international community to the implementation of the Djibouti Agreement, which envisaged simultaneous progress in three areas: security, political cooperation and reconstruction. I want to underline in particular that this Conference is not being organized as a donor conference. The third day of the Conference will provide an opportunity for the Transitional Federal Government, Member States, the private sector and international business investors to engage, with a view to identifying future opportunities. It will also focus on recovery and reconstruction activities that aim at attracting direct investment for infrastructure projects that will strengthen the Somali economy, create employment and generate revenue. That will boost local business, lead to socio-economic development and contribute to the peace process. This is particularly pertinent when one considers that 3.2 million people — or 43 per cent of Somalis — still need humanitarian assistance. We genuinely want the Istanbul Conference to make a change: a change in the future of Somalia, a change in the effective work of the Transitional Federal Government and a change in the lives of the Somali people, who have suffered a great deal in the past. From Istanbul, we hope to send a strong message of solidarity and to tell them that they are not alone.

We too are grateful to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Somalia, for his briefing on the situation in Somalia. We listened with interest to the statements of Mr. Abdurahman A. Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, and of Mr. Ramtane Lamamra of the African Union. Broadly speaking, we agree with their assessment of the situation in Somalia. We agree also that there has been some success in the work of the Transitional Federal Government with respect to the peace process. The Government’s social base is expanding slowly but surely as State authority grows stronger. Hence, we support Somali development by the Somalis themselves, on the basis of their own efforts. At the same time, we are concerned about stability in the country. The irreconcilable opposition continues to attack Government positions, African Union troops and Somali forces. This undermines the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government to effectively govern the country. Even in the capital the extent of its influence is narrow, and in the central and southern parts of the country, extremists are in nearly total control. United Nations personnel, local people and humanitarian workers are in danger, which makes the humanitarian situation even more difficult than it already was. The international community must continue to take agreed measures to provide assistance to the Transitional Federal Government in the areas of security and capacity-building, as it seeks to carry out its governance functions. In the current situation, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is an important stabilizing factor in the country. In that regard, we, like others, want it to be fully staffed and provided with appropriate logistical support. We believe that, depending on the political situation and with the consent of the Somalis, that presence should continue as the United Nations presence gradually expands. Along with the Secretary-General, we continue to advocate coordination of the work of United Nations agencies in Somalia. We agree that it is necessary to broaden the United Nations partnerships with other players and to pool efforts to overcome the security challenges in the peace process and to advance in the development process. Here, we welcome the Istanbul Conference on Somalia, to be held this month, which our Turkish colleague introduced in detail. We support the Secretary-General’s proposal to strengthen the Somalia sanctions regime. We believe, however, that targeted sanctions must be imposed on the basis of reliable and verified information. With respect to piracy, Russia continues to be an active participant in international efforts to repel that threat. In our view, prosecution of pirates is a difficult problem. We stress that, as the relevant reports of the Secretary-General are prepared pursuant to Council resolution 1918 (2010), they should explore the possibility of establishing special judicial chambers or an international tribunal on piracy, taking international practice into account. We believe that if there is to be a long-term solution for piracy the political process must continue and there must be renewal in Somalia. Russia supports the efforts of the Somali President and the Transitional Federal Government to achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation on the basis of the Djibouti Agreement, in the interest of strengthening security and stability in the region. We believe that the authority of the legitimate Government must be extended throughout the territory of Somalia, irrespective of the current political situation in particular regions.

Let me begin by thanking Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and Mr. Abdurahman A. Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Transitional National Government, for their presentations. I also welcome the presence among us of Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, and thank him for his statement. I would recall France’s full support for the Transitional Federal Government. We endorse the statement to be made by the representative of the European Union. The situation in Somalia remains fragile. Whether we are talking about the humanitarian situation or the military situation, the attacks of the radical opposition on the Transitional Federal Government are ongoing. The Government successfully resisted such attacks, but the emergence from crisis has been slowed down. With regard to the Istanbul Conference, in which the French minister will participate, should make it possible to start planning for ways to develop Somalia. The international community should support President Ahmed. We hope that the United Nations will be able, in accordance with the overall strategy overseen by the Security Council, to provide a permanent presence in Somalia, led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, whose coordinating role has been recognized by the Council. However, such progress presupposes that the Transitional Federal Government shall continue, with the help of the international community, to strengthen itself militarily. France has contributed to that end by training a battalion of 500 Somali soldiers. Other countries, such as Uganda and Djibouti, have done the same. This month, the European Union, with the participation of French soldiers, has begun to train 2,000 Somali soldiers in Uganda, in close cooperation with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other partners. In this regard, it is critical to ensure that our efforts are sustainable and to coordinate them as much as possible with the activities of AMISOM. The African Union Mission, strengthened by a fourth Ugandan battalion and by new police officers, continues to give the Government indispensable support. I pay tribute to the courage of its personnel, and in particular the Ugandan and Burundian contingents. The support provided to AMISOM by the United Nations logistical support package, within the limits defined by the Council, should continue, as should the support of the major donors, either directly or through the various funds that have been set up. The United Nations also has different means for taking action at its disposal, such as international sanctions. Following the adoption of resolution 1907 (2009) last December, the sanctions Committee decided to place a series of entities and individuals on the sanctions list, on the basis of resolution 1844 (2008), in order to signal our determination in a concrete manner. All these actions will have even greater impact now that the Transitional Federal Government has been strengthened by the political momentum it has sparked in the spirit of the Djibouti Agreement and through the agreement signed with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a on 15 March. It is all the more urgent that the latter agreement be implemented and that the transitional Somali authorities show themselves to be united. With respect to fighting piracy, the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234) shows that the number of attacks has decreased. We must continue to take action on the seas, and Operation Atalanta plays a major role in this effort. But we also have to expand our action on land, which will require helping the States of the region that have been victims of piracy to obtain the legal and financial means to prosecute and eventually convict and imprison the pirates. We hail the efforts of the States of the region and encourage Kenya, Seychelles and Tanzania — as well as Somalia, of course — to redouble their efforts in this area, with the support, inter alia, of the Contact Group’s Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The Fund has already decided to allocate more than €2 million. We call on donors to contribute to the Fund. France welcomes the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and the authorities of Puntland in this regard. The High Representative of the European Union, Baroness Ashton, will soon visit the region in order to raise these and other issues, which the Council will take up again in late July. Somalia is experiencing one of the most complex and dangerous crises ever. I recall in that regard that a French national has been held hostage there since July 2009. The European Union’s ability to act there is particularly difficult. We must ceaselessly continue to work on improving our means of action. Accordingly, France will closely follow the results of the different investigations launched following the publication of the latest report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia (S/2010/91). I would stress that these difficulties make better coordination between the actions of the international community and the United Nations all the more necessary. I welcome the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to that end and to work for an integrated mission. France looks forward with great interest to hearing the Secretary- General’s recommendations on these matters.

Mr. President, I would like to thank you for convening today’s open debate on the situation in Somalia. We welcome Mr. Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia. I thank Mr. Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing. I also thank Mr. Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, for his statement. Since the last briefing by Mr. Ould Abdallah to the Security Council, there has been no noticeable improvement in the situation in Somalia. The security situation there does not allow for optimism, the humanitarian crisis is worsening, and the political negotiation process has been difficult and slow. Pirate activities remain rampant. The situation in Somalia has thus become a serious threat to security and peace in the Horn of Africa and to international peace and security. It is the view of the Chinese Government that the ultimate solution to the question of Somalia lies in the cessation of armed conflict among various factions, the settlement of political differences, and the achievement of national reconciliation and reconstruction. China supports the Djibouti Agreement and welcomes the agreement recently signed between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. It is our sincere hope that the political parties in Somalia will act in the interest of the State and the nation by laying down their arms, seeking common ground and participating in the political negotiation process. We call on all the concerned parties, including countries of the region, to cooperate in earnest, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, offer support to the TFG, and advance the domestic political process of reconciliation so that substantive progress can be achieved as soon as possible. China condemns all attacks on the TFG, the civilians of Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). We highly appreciate AMISOM’s work to improve the security situation in Somalia in circumstances of extreme difficulty and danger. We also recognize the contribution of such troop- contributing countries as Uganda and Burundi. We believe that the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, should play an even greater role in seeking a solution to the question of Somalia. We support the idea that the United Nations should maintain its assistance to AMISOM. We also support the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Somalia as soon as conditions permit. The peace process in Somalia requires the unflagging attention and support of the international community. We welcome the upcoming Istanbul Conference on Somalia. We hope that greater common understanding can be reached at the Conference on an appropriate solution to the question of Somalia. To conclude, I would like to thank Special Representative Ould Abdallah for his tireless efforts and hard work in promoting peace in Somalia in recent years. Every time he comes to the Council for a briefing, he reminds us of the urgency of finding a solution to the question of Somalia, which, in the current environment, has become particularly egregious. I would therefore like to reiterate that the Chinese Government is ready to make its own contribution to finding a solution to the question of Somalia. We shall continue to support Mr. Ould Abdallah’s work.

I, too, would like to thank Mr. Ould Abdallah for his briefing and exemplary work as Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I also welcome the presence of and briefings by Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) and Commissioner Lamamra. A firm commitment was made by the international community a year ago at the donors conference in Brussels to support Somalia and, in particular, the TFG. One year later, we find that the situation in Somalia remains highly volatile and continues to be a source of deep concern. A quarter of the pledges made at Brussels have not yet been disbursed. The situation therefore requires a renewed commitment to translating the political compact into action. First, we urge the TFG to continue to strengthen its efforts for political reconciliation and outreach. Japan commends the recent agreement between the TFG and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, which should be immediately put into force. We also hope that the TFG will continue to reach out to opposition groups to achieve more inclusive administration. The institution-building effort of the TFG is crucially important. The training of and financial assistance to Somali security personnel are essential to building the Somali security institutions. The TFG’s capacity for financial management and to provide basic services is also the basis for its governance. The major challenge is how to make those efforts persistent and sustainable. The international community must concentrate its assistance to the TFG. We must ensure that we stop any support to groups jeopardizing the peace process and prevent activities against the TFG. The international community, for its part, should honour its commitment to supporting the efforts of the TFG. With respect to security, Japan commends the indispensable role played by the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). We are pleased that the troop level has now reached 7,000 with the deployment of a fourth battalion by Burundi. Japan expresses sincere appreciation for the tremendous work done by the troops of Uganda and Burundi under very difficult conditions. The deployment of seven AMISOM police personnel to train the Somali police in Mogadishu is a small but positive step. We hope that more police personnel will be deployed as soon as security conditions permit. Japan appreciates the valuable support of the logistical package provided by the Secretariat to AMISOM. We welcome the dissemination of balanced information through public radio. The efforts to train the military and police personnel of the TFG need to be accompanied by equipment and infrastructure support. We hope that the most effective use will be made of the Trust Funds in support of AMISOM and Somali security institutions. Japan is pleased with the contributions that have been made to support these efforts. I add my voice to the appeal for the remaining 25 per cent of the pledges made at the Brussels conference to be disbursed as soon as possible. Humanitarian assistance plays an indispensable role in the lives of millions of people in Somalia. Japan condemns the obstruction and intimidation by opposition groups to hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It is our strong hope that the assistance provided through the World Food Programme will be fully implemented as soon as the independent review clarifies the allegations of misuse. We hope that the emergency rehabilitation project at the Port of Mogadishu, to be implemented by the World Food Programme with Japanese support, will contribute to efficient food delivery and customs revenues for the TFG. It will also be important to strengthen the cooperation between the TFG, Puntland and Somaliland with a view to long-term reconstruction and development throughout Somalia. To achieve peace and stability in Somalia, the Security Council endorsed a three-stage incremental approach to provide support for AMISOM and the early establishment of a United Nations presence in Somalia. Improvement in security is of course a prerequisite to making progress in the three-stage approach. We hope that the TFG will make every effort to make effective use of international support and to strengthen its governance. The issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia is closely linked to the situation on land. Regrettably, the incidents of piracy have not decreased in momentum. Those activities are now expanding East, far from the shore to the Somali Basin and close to the Seychelles. The fight against piracy requires a multifaceted and collective international approach. The efforts of the TFG, Somaliland and Puntland to coordinate their counter-piracy actions should be encouraged. The international community must support the stabilization of Somalia, capacity-building in neighbouring countries, and the creation of productive employment opportunities for young people. Japan is committed to making active contributions, including at the upcoming meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

I, too, welcome His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim and Mr. Lamamra to this meeting. I should like in particular to thank Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah for his untiring work in Somalia, and more especially for the clear and comprehensive briefing that he gave this morning. It is evident from the briefings we have received that the situation in Somalia remains dire. In spite of this, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is making progress. We commend the efforts of the TFG in spite of these difficulties. The consolidation of the process in Somalia, however, cannot be deepened in a situation in which the TFG faces severe budgetary gaps, the security environment remains volatile and unpredictable, the humanitarian situation is in fact worsening, piracy is on the increase and constraining economic challenges remain. It is in this regard that we believe that the remaining time before the end of the transition period will be pivotal and must be seized to facilitate the return of peace, security and stability to Somalia. On the political front, there is a need for more progress in the drafting of the new constitution, based on consultations. We commend the agreement reached on 15 March with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, which is a milestone that should foster sustained political dialogue and the furtherance of the Djibouti Agreement. There is also a need to intensify international support for the TFG in its effort to extend its authority internally, provide services and confront the security challenges in the country. In the economic sector, there is a need to recognize Somalia’s economic challenges and to support the TFG’s efforts to generate revenue. I should like to echo a point made by Mr. Ould Abdallah this morning regarding the payment of fishing license fees to the TFG rather than to individuals as a concrete way to contribute to the generation of revenue in Somalia. The international community must also focus attention on Somalia’s economic development needs, especially job creation. The integration of the Somali economy into the wider regional economy should also be encouraged. These efforts should be complemented by the consistent delivery of humanitarian services. While we appreciate the immense contributions that have been made to Somalia, we lend our support to the Secretary-General’s appeal to Member States to fulfil their financial pledges to the TFG, especially those made at the Brussels conference. Let me also add that we support the Istanbul conference to be convened on 22 May. Stabilizing the security environment is vital for the strengthening of the Government and the building of State capacity and institutions in Somalia. Increased support is required for Somalia’s security forces through strategic training, the provision of adequate resources for the payment of salaries, and the building of the national security and stabilization plan. Measures to fight piracy, deter foreign fighters and protect civilians and aid workers should be enhanced. The implementation of existing essential measures should also be improved. Let me now reiterate our full support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and call for, first, the full implementation of the AMISOM support package; secondly, enhanced remuneration for AMISOM troops to bring it into line with United Nations rates; thirdly, reimbursement for transportation and other logistics provisions; and, fourthly, the establishment of a multilateral peacekeeping force in Somalia under the aegis of the United Nations and the African Union. We welcome the Secretary-General’s efforts to operationalize the joint planning unit to ensure the coherence and coordination of United Nations activities in the country. We look forward to his review of the implementation of the United Nations strategy for Somalia, which we hope will take into consideration the need to integrate the United Nations system in Somalia. In conclusion, we salute the gallant men and women of the military forces of Uganda and Burundi for their efforts and commitment to the cause of peace in Somalia. We also salute the dedication of international aid and humanitarian workers in the country.

We welcome Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, and his delegation, as well as Ambassador Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. We listened very carefully to their briefings. We once again appreciate the valuable information provided by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould Abdallah. We acknowledge his commitment and that of his office to carrying out their arduous task. We are concerned that, in spite of the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, assisted by the international community, the security situation in that country continues to be highly volatile. We commend the efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the commitment of Uganda and Burundi to deterring attacks by armed groups and achieving basic levels of stability in key sites around the country. We are certain that support for the Transitional Federal Government in comprehensively reforming the security sector is the only viable way of ensuring the stability that Somalia and its people so urgently need. We commend the work of the Joint Security Committee on devising a development strategy for the security sector. We also acknowledge the progress made in the training of military and police personnel. Moreover, we agree with the joint security sector assessment that reforming the sector should be based on a firm political pillar and include the promotion of good governance, transparency and accountability. In that regard, we believe that the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a political faction that was signed under the auspices of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia has set an important precedent for dialogue among all factions and armed groups in the context of the Djibouti Agreement. The Agreement and the conclusion of Somalia’s constitution-making process are essential steps towards consolidating and legitimizing the Government. We believe that the meeting of the Contact Group held in Cairo in April and the high-level Istanbul Conference on Somalia’s reconstruction and development, which is to be held from 21 to 22 May, will contribute to efforts to draft an international community strategy for Somalia that is more coherent and coordinated and led by the United Nations. In that regard, we reiterate our support for the incremental approach to the deployment of the United Nations presence in Mogadishu. We commend the efforts of all the Organization’s agencies involved in that regard. We trust that efforts in the political and security sectors will produce the results necessary to achieve greater progress. With regard to the issue of combating piracy and armed robbery, we acknowledge the efforts of the European Union, NATO, Combined Task Force 151 and the international presence. In coordination with the Transitional Federal Government, they are confronting these threats to the economy and security of the region. We believe that generating coast guard capacity in Somalia and the countries of the region should continue to be an essential goal, without ignoring the clear need and strategic value of prioritizing efforts on the ground to tackle the root causes of this phenomenon. In that regard, the dialogue focused on greater cooperation and cooperation among officials of the various Somali regions is a great step forward. With regard to the recent adoption of resolution 1918 (2010), we look forward to the Security Council’s consideration of options with regard to possible justice mechanisms with respect to piracy. My delegation believes that the international community should endeavour to prioritize capacity-building for international judicial systems so that they can investigate and try perpetrators of piracy in Somalia. We also believe that, as an essential tool for combating piracy, the strengthening of national capacities should take priority over the establishment of international tribunals. We join others in condemning attacks against AMISOM and the humanitarian workers of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. Such attacks have led to a reduction in assistance efforts and impede the access of vulnerable groups to basic needs and the nutrition needed to survive. Given the serious insecurity we see on the ground and its regrettable impact on the civilian population, we reiterate our commitment to full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights. We call on the parties to immediately cease attacks, avoid situations that indiscriminately affect the civilian population, and allow access to and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. In addition, we are especially concerned about reports of increased recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed groups in Somalia. We urge all parties to free all child soldiers in their ranks and to ensure that they return to their home communities. We also commend all the efforts of the Federal Transitional Government to address this alarming recruitment situation. In the context of the sanctions Committee on Somalia and Eritrea, my delegation reiterates its belief that, used coherently and incrementally, arms embargos and targeted sanctions regimens are valuable tools that can benefit the peace process as a whole. In that regard, we are pleased to note the willingness demonstrated by the Transitional Federal Government, the World Food Programme and the United Nations country team in Somalia to look into aspects pertaining to their functions referred to in the annual report of the Committee’s Monitoring Group (S/2010/91). Both the Committee and the Monitoring Group are fully prepared to cooperate with these investigations and interested in their conclusions. In the context of this cooperation, I recently led a visit to the Horn of Africa in my capacity of Chairman of the sanctions Committee, as recommended by that Committee. The purpose of the visit was to disseminate information about the sanctions regime, to facilitate the work of the Committee’s Monitoring Group, and to address specific issues related to the arms embargo and sanctions targeted against entities and individuals, inviting all involved Governments to cooperate with the Committee and the Security Council. In the next few weeks, I will be presenting a report to the Committee on my visit to the region, which will be included in the report I submit every four months to the Security Council. I can state now that the visit enabled us to establish positive and constructive dialogue with each of the regional actors, in accordance with the Committee’s mandate, as well as to observe the outstanding work that the United Nations is carrying out in the field in the face of the major challenge that Somalia poses for the international community.

At the outset, I would like to join my colleagues in welcoming the First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, and in thanking him for his important statement. I further wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his extremely useful briefing. Our thanks also go to Mr. Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. Bosnia and Herzegovina aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union to the United Nations later today. We would like to reiterate our full support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Djibouti peace process, and call upon all relevant actors to fully implement the commitments undertaken. Having said this, we would like to emphasize that the cooperation and assistance of the international community to the TFG are crucial, and that every resource should be used to generate the necessary political and security conditions for the successful completion of the transition by 2011. We note with satisfaction the progress in some key areas identified in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/234), particularly in the field of national reconciliation, the drafting of the constitution, capacity-building, the building of national security forces and expanding political space in the country. In that context, we further welcome the signing of the cooperation agreement between the TFG and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, and we hope that this change will contribute to the Government’s capacity to consolidate its authority and restore order in the country. We urge all groups outside the Djibouti peace process to join in as soon as possible. Bosnia and Herzegovina is concerned about the security situation in Somalia, especially in the southern and central parts of the country. We strongly condemn the continuing indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population, the TFG and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). We are deeply concerned by the fact that the recruitment and use of children in the conflict have increased in the past year. We therefore urge all parties to the conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law and human rights law in order to protect the civilian population. Bosnia and Herzegovina further expresses its concern regarding the alarming humanitarian crisis in Somalia, which is exacerbated by the severe difficulties in the delivery of humanitarian assistance caused by increased violence against humanitarian workers, ongoing fighting and drought. We hope that adequate funding of the consolidated appeals process and the United Nations transition plan for Somalia will allow for the continuation of critical humanitarian activities. Once more, Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to commend the African Union and AMISOM troops for their tireless efforts in stabilizing the situation in Somalia, despite the extremely difficult environment in which they are operating. We would like to pay a special tribute to Uganda and Burundi for the vitally important contribution they are making to AMISOM. Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the important efforts made by the TFG in preparing its own security sector assessment report and the national security and stabilization plan, which are intended to ensure coherence in developing the security and justice sectors. In that regard, we encourage the fulfilment of pledges made at the international conference in support of Somalia’s security institutions and AMISOM, held in Brussels on 23 April 2009. In order to achieve lasting peace and stability, we urge the TFG to build on this positive momentum and intensify its efforts, especially in the areas of political reconciliation and outreach, the constitution-making process, security, stability and the delivery of services. Moreover, it is of crucial importance for the international community to use this window of opportunity to strengthen the effectiveness of its presence in the country by further coordinating its actions. Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the three-phase incremental approach, as set out by the Secretary- General. We welcome the completion and approval of the first accommodation facilities in a Bancroft compound with regard to establishing the second “light footprint” phase. We also welcome the Istanbul Conference on Somalia to be held on 22 May 2010, and hope that it will foster political stability, security and reconstruction in the country. On the fight against piracy, Bosnia and Herzegovina shares the position expressed by other Council members that long-term solutions will come only through the rule of law and the establishment of security on the ground. In conclusion, please allow me to highlight an issue we deem exceptionally important. Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes important efforts of the United Nations Mine Action Service to reduce the dangers of mines to the civilian population, including mapping mine contamination throughout southern and central Somalia and mine risk education sessions in communities affected by mines and unexploded ordnance.

Mr. President, Gabon welcomes the initiative of your country, Lebanon, to organize a debate on Somalia, a country where the situation remains troubling on the political, security and humanitarian fronts. We welcome the participation in this important debate of His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia. His informative statement has of course provided us with useful information on recent developments in his country. It strengthens our enduring confidence in the ability of Somalia to take up the many challenges ahead. My delegation would also like to thank Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for the clarity and high quality of his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234) and for his consistent commitment to peace and reconciliation in Somalia. I also naturally welcome the participation of the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, my friend and brother Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, who has shared with us the African Union’s views on the matter. As members know the situation in Somalia is of the highest concern to Africa and the international community, which are making tireless efforts to restore peace and stability there. We are firmly convinced that regular wide-ranging discussions on the Somali crisis, such as the one that will take place in Istanbul from 21 to 23 May 2010, can help the Security Council to better assess progress on the ground and the further initiatives to take in order to best continue restoring the Somali State. The Somali crisis is first and foremost political and institutional in nature. Thus, the country will find a lasting solution only through further emphasis being placed on restoring State authority and strengthening the peace process. In that regard, my country reiterates its support for the Djibouti peace agreement, signed on 19 August 2008. Thus, we praise the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government to fully implement that agreement, as shown by an agreement signed between the Transitional Federal Government and the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a resistance movement at the headquarters of the African Union on 15 March. That outreach initiative is undeniable progress, greatly welcomed, moreover, by the International Contact Group on Somalia at its meeting in Cairo on 21 and 22 April 2010. The Somali authorities must continue dialogue with the insurgent groups so as to bring them into the peace process and to actively seek ways to achieve reconciliation and a lasting peace. Hence, the Security Council, and the international community in general, must continue to support to the Transitional Federal Government in order to strengthen its authority throughout the territory. This is the place to encourage the implementation of the Trust Fund for Somalia and the full honouring of the pledges made at the April 2009 Brussels conference. Along the same lines, we should encourage a stronger presence of the international community and greater coordination of its action with the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu. The signing of a memorandum of understanding last April by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia seeks precisely to facilitate the coordination on the ground of the action of the signatories with regard to protecting civilians, in particular women and children. The crisis in Somalia is also a security crisis. Armed violence must be stopped, in particular the fighting between the regular army and the insurgents. In a word, the international community must participate in securing the country. My delegation commends the significant role that the African Union Mission in Somalia continues to play, despite the difficult conditions it faces owing both to the environment and to its operational capacities. Despite the broad consensus enjoyed by the Transitional Federal Government within the international community, the support provided to AMISOM, which barely comprises the required 8,000 soldiers, unfortunately has still not enabled its optimal deployment. The human and logistical resources necessary for its mission are still lacking. My delegation wishes to reiterate its hearty congratulations to Uganda and Burundi, which, despite those extremely difficult conditions, have agreed to provide troops to AMISOM. Those congratulations also go to Djibouti, which last January decided to make 450 soldiers available to the Mission. Lastly, I extend our gratitude to the other countries which, from near or far, contribute in various ways to the viability of that African operation. However, AMISOM is not forever. I would like to believe that sooner or later it will be bolstered or replaced by a true United Nations peacekeeping operation, whose modalities could be defined in consultation with the African Union. Recalling that the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security lies with the Security Council, my delegation is convinced that a larger United Nations presence in Somalia would help improve the security conditions required for a successful transition by 2011. In the medium term, securing the country is a task that must return to the Somali army. The optimal discharge of such a mission requires that the troops be well trained and that the army must be closer to the communities. Here, the challenge is to form a truly national army. We welcome the initiative recently taken by the European Union to establish, in Uganda, a training programme for the Somali armed forces. Such initiatives should be duplicated with the help of the African Union and undertaken as part of a national action plan developed by the Somali authorities. In that regard, as indicated in the report under consideration, we welcome the current efforts of the Transitional Federal Government to prepare a report to assess the security sector and the implementation of the national security and stabilization plan. Acts of piracy against ships at sea are a threat not only to the security of other States in the region, but also to international navigation and the safety of commercial maritime routes. We support all initiatives seeking to improve the fight against piracy in the territorial waters of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden and to bring to justice those guilty of acts of piracy. Gabon is among those that believe that piracy at sea is simply a result of the insecurity prevailing on Somali territory. It is therefore logical to approach this issue in a comprehensive way and to give high priority to resolving the internal situation. I cannot end my statement without mentioning the humanitarian crisis hitting Somalia, which is one of the worst that Africa has ever experienced. Some 20 years of violence and anarchy have caused at least 2 million Somali citizens to flee for their life. The assistance provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and other partners, whose indispensability we recognize and whose work on the ground we welcome, unfortunately still proves insufficient owing both to a lack of resources and to security constraints that make the needy populations’ access to food aid difficult. It is therefore essential to step up efforts to support the action of humanitarian organizations on the ground. Regarding Somalia’s reconstruction, the international community’s support must also take into account the country’s economic development, in particular restoring infrastructure, providing basic services, promoting trade and business and creating jobs.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his briefing. I also welcome the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia, Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, and thank him for updating the Council on the current developments in Somalia. It is clear that while much has been achieved so far, many challenges still remain. Let me also welcome Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, and thank him for his useful statement. Uganda reaffirms its support for the Djibouti peace process, as it represents the best opportunity for lasting peace in Somalia. We commend the efforts made by the Transitional Federal Government towards advancing the political process in the country, and we support its continued commitment to reaching out to opposition groups in the search for lasting peace. The signing of the 15 March agreement between the Government and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a was a significant achievement. We encourage the Transitional Federal Government to further build on that success towards forming an all- inclusive government. The building of State institutions is critical for effective governance and for security, as well as for the stability of Somalia. Uganda commends the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government towards the rebuilding of State institutions, including the security and judicial sectors and the collection of revenue. However, major challenges still remain within those and other sectors. It is imperative that the international community extend more support to the Government to help it overcome these challenges and extend its authority over more territory. The security situation in Somalia remains a serious challenge. The primary responsibility for ensuring peace and security in Somalia rests with the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people themselves. For this to happen, the country requires well trained and well equipped armed and police forces. Retention of these forces is critical; to achieve that, the forces need to be remunerated in a predictable and sustainable way. Other critical areas that require support include health, education, energy, fisheries and infrastructure. These need to be addressed urgently in order to change the situation on the ground. We call on the international community to assist the Transitional Federal Government in that regard. The success of the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government in unifying and reconstructing the country will depend significantly on the availability of adequate and predictable resources. We therefore call upon the international community to continue supporting the Transitional Federal Government. In that regard, we welcome the Istanbul Conference on Somalia, to be held from 21 to 23 May. The Conference will offer Somalia and the international community an opportunity to review progress and challenges in the areas of security, political reconciliation and the reconstruction of the country. It is also important to continue the efforts towards bringing the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to its authorized troop level of 8,000, to enable it fully to discharge its mandate. We appreciate the support that has been extended to AMISOM through the logistical support package, the trust fund and bilateral arrangements. One of the challenges that remain is to provide reimbursement for all contingent- owned equipment. In that regard, we call for predictable and timely provision of funds and other resources. Piracy remains a major challenge off the coast of Somalia, as evidenced by recent incidents. This situation remains, in spite of the significant efforts of the international community to deploy substantial naval assets off the coast of Somalia to combat piracy. This is a reminder that, as long as there is instability on the mainland, the problem of piracy will persist. It is important that the Transitional Federal Government be assisted in establishing authority over its territory, as this will ensure a durable way of combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. Finally, we thank Mr. Ould Abdallah and the staff of United Nations and humanitarian agencies for their work in difficult conditions. It is important that arrangements be made for the relocation to Somalia of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM, the United Nations Political Office for Somalia and other United Nations agencies based in neighbouring countries. That will help strengthen the Government and will also send a clear signal of further support by the international community to the people of Somalia.

I welcome Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Resources of Somalia, and thank him for his remarks. I also thank Mr. Ould Abdallah for his briefing and for his commendable work as Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Somalia. I welcome African Union Commissioner Lamamra and thank him for his statement. Through him, I would like to convey our appreciation to the African Union for its support to Somalia. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has been able to withstand fierce armed opposition and to make progress in some important areas of the Djibouti process and the transitional agenda. Nevertheless, many challenges still remain on the path towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Somalia. The signing on 15 March of the framework agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a was an important achievement in the reconciliation policy adopted by President Sharif. We look forward to the implementation of the agreement and urge other armed groups to renounce violence and join the Djibouti process. The decision by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea to list Al-Shabaab and eight individuals should be seen as a wake-up call to all recalcitrant groups. Unity within and among the Transitional Federal Institutions will remain essential to achieving further progress towards peace and stability. The security situation in Somalia remains a matter of great concern, despite progress in international support for the restructuring of Transitional Federal Government security forces and for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). My delegation deplores, in particular, the attacks against that Mission, including the one directed against its headquarters on 27 April. We once again pay tribute to the troops from Uganda and Burundi for their contribution to the stabilization of Somalia. We are encouraged by the efforts of several Member States to train, equip and fund AMISOM troops and Transitional Federal Government security forces. We note, in particular, the launching of the European Union training mission to Somalia. We are encouraged by the progress reported by the Secretary-General regarding United Nations activities in Mogadishu. We hope that security and political conditions will be soon in place to allow for a more substantive United Nations presence in the capital. As the Transitional Federal Government rebuilds its security forces, steps must be taken to avoid the civilian population continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict. Fleeing conflict zones, such as Mogadishu, is not always a guarantee against violence. We strongly condemn the taking of a medical compound by armed groups on 7 May. Blatant disregard for the principle of distinction was also displayed in the attack against the mosque in the Bakara market, on 2 May, which killed and injured scores of innocent people. Against this background, it is disquieting to learn that World Food Programme operations Somalia remain suspended in all of south-central Somalia except Mogadishu and that the World Health Organization has had to reduce its activities in the country due to lack of funding. In addition, it is disturbing to learn that the 2010 consolidated appeal is only 15 per cent funded. Resolution 1918 (2010) represents an important step against piracy. We encourage all stakeholders to engage with Kenya in addressing its concerns with regard to its efforts to fight impunity at sea. Brazil also welcomes the establishment of a regional centre to prosecute suspected pirates in Seychelles. Not only States from the region but all affected States, including flag States and States of the nationalities of victims, have a common responsibility in tackling the problem. I should also stress that a comprehensive solution to piracy off the coast of Somalia will be achieved only by addressing its root causes on land, as has been pointed out by many delegations this morning. In this regard, Brazil is encouraged by the increasing cooperation on anti-piracy between the TFG, Somaliland and Puntland noted in the Secretary- General’s report (S/2010/234). This could also build confidence and have a positive influence on other core issues related to Somalia’s future. Before concluding, I would like to say a few words on reconstruction and development. Progress in revenue collection and the TFG’s renewed focus on delivering basic services and rehabilitating infrastructure are commendable. Tending to the fundamental needs of the population and fostering income generation are as important as the restructuring of security forces. Socio-economic development can greatly reduce the appeal of the insurgency and the pirate militias. The TFG should be actively supported in this regard, including through capacity-building. We welcome the convening of the Istanbul Conference on Somalia and look forward to its outcome. The situation in Somalia is among the most difficult challenges on the Security Council’s agenda. The partnership between the TFG and the international community should be strengthened. It has already borne some fruit and is the most promising way to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ould Abdallah for his briefing today. I also highly welcome the participation in this debate of His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, and of His Excellency Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. At the outset, let me underline that Austria fully aligns itself with the statement of the European Union that will be delivered later today. Austria highly welcomes the fact that, despite the difficult security and humanitarian situation, Somalis have made some progress in the Djibouti peace process. Austria commends the signing of the agreement with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. Now the focus should be on its implementation and further outreach, with a special focus on a bottom-up approach taking into account the firmly rooted clan structure of Somali society. Austria would like to once again confirm its support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the continuation of the political process, which should be as broad-based as possible. We hope that the TFG, with the support of the international community, will be able to assume in unity its responsibilities to build security and rule of law institutions and to embark on a reconciliation process. Let me also underline the important contribution of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), its troop-contributing countries Uganda and Burundi, the United Nations support package for AMISOM, as well as the substantial support of the European Union (EU) to AMISOM in bringing security and stability to the country. I would also like to highlight that the EU has decided to step up its engagement to promote peace and development in Somalia and last month launched a training mission in Somalia to contribute to the training of Somali security forces. We welcome the proposal contained in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/234) to review the implementation of the United Nations strategy for Somalia and are looking forward to the presentation of the results to the Security Council. It is indeed important to better coordinate the work of the United Nations entities on Somalia. We also look forward to the upcoming Istanbul Conference on Somalia. We are very concerned about the fragile security situation and the impact of this environment on the humanitarian and human rights situation. Some 3.2 million people, almost half of Somalia’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity and restricted humanitarian access exacerbate the situation. Concerning any irregularities in the management of humanitarian aid raised in the report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia (S/2010/91), we consider it of utmost importance that they be investigated and addressed properly. Humanitarian deliveries must resume as soon as the security situation allows. At the same time, I would like to reiterate Austria’s appreciation for the dedication and engagement of the many humanitarian workers who accept high risks in order to alleviate the plight of the civilian population in Somalia. The human rights situation in Somalia continues to be very problematic. We are extremely concerned about the devastating consequences of the armed conflict on civilians and the continued impunity for human rights violations and abuses. We call upon all parties to ensure the protection of civilians in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law. We also reiterate our condemnation of the recruitment of children by armed groups and our request that they be released immediately. We warmly welcome the TFG’s measures to focus on the protection of human rights as an essential element of the peace process. We are also very encouraged by the TFG’s intention to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Austria firmly condemns recent terror attacks, and we are deeply worried about foreign support to the insurgents. All Security Council resolutions, including those that impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo, must be implemented fully and in good faith. These measures are directed not against the people of Somalia, but against those who threaten peace security or stability. The security situation for the Somali population is still unacceptable and does not allow for the provision of urgently needed help for the people. The abundance of arms and armed groups is also a root cause of the surge in piracy. It is important to see piracy not only as a threat to key international shipping lanes, but also as a factor further aggravating the security and humanitarian situation in Somalia. Austria therefore stresses the importance of determined activities to curb piracy in the region, such as the EU’s naval Operation Atalanta. Finally, we also hope that in the future the report of the Secretary-General will be issued within a time frame that allows it to be fully taken into account in preparation for the debate.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of Lebanon. Once again, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia, and thank him for his important statement. I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, for his thorough briefing. Lebanon supports the Djibouti peace process and welcomes recent positive political developments, including the signing of an agreement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. We hope that the approach to the situation in Somalia, where 43 per cent of the population needs humanitarian assistance, will not be limited to fighting rebellions and efforts in the area of security, although these issues are very important, but will also include the consolidation of institutions and development aid. We would like to make the following points. With respect to security, we are very concerned by recent acts of violence, militia attacks against the Government and clashes among the insurgents themselves, which have resulted in a number of innocent casualties. These conflicts show that we need to equip and support the regular army of Somalia as soon as possible in order to extend State authority throughout Somali territory and to reintegrate deserters and defectors from the army. We welcome the Government’s national security plan and urge donors to approve assistance to build up the Somali security services and to ensure that they are duly paid. As to piracy, we condemn all acts of piracy and armed robbery, which pose a serious threat to trade, international navigation and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We affirm the importance of resolution 1918 (2010) and thank the States that have sent ships into the territorial waters of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. We hope that this increased international presence will uncover new information on illegal fishing and the dumping of industrial waste along the Somali coast. We support Mr. Ould Abdallah’s proposal regarding fishing license fees. We reiterate that addressing the underlying causes of piracy would help to establish a firm and lasting foundation for economic development and the elimination of poverty in Somalia, and that comprehensive implementation of the political process remains the key to resolving the piracy issue. On the issue of financial support, Lebanon thanks the donors that have largely honoured the commitments they made in Brussels in 2009 and calls on them to go beyond that assistance in response to the 2010 humanitarian appeal. On the humanitarian situation, Lebanon condemns insurgent attacks on humanitarian workers. We are concerned over the evidence of children abducted by armed groups and especially alarmed by the threats made against journalists. On the issue of the three-phased incremental approach, we support the early implementation of the second phase of that process in order to strengthen the United Nations presence in Somalia and thereby send a strong message of support from the Security Council for the Djibouti peace process. With respect to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in the absence of an international presence we call on donors to contribute to financing AMISOM, and we praise the contributions of the African Union and of AMISOM towards establishing sustainable peace in Somalia. We thank Uganda and Burundi for their contributions to that end and the international community for its efforts. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Norway.

Norway is a founding member of the International Contact Group on Somalia and we chair the Group of Friends here in New York. The Djibouti process is a Somali process. It is owned and driven by Somalis. The Transitional Federal Institutions should be driving the process and should do so with a unified approach. Norway applauded the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a in March. We also commended the new agreement between the TFG and Puntland. We are watching a political transition in Somalia. It is important that the door remain open to others. However, implementing agreements is even more important than signing them, and the TFG should be urged to address this with seriousness. Taking into account the approaching end of the transition period in August 2011, efforts have to be redoubled with regard to improving the security situation, giving impetus to the political process, and improving the lives of children, women and men in Somalia. We recognize that the TFG is facing very serious constraints and challenges, and we also realize that the international community may not have been as forthcoming with support and assistance as expected by the TFG. Norway has recently and for the first time transferred a small amount of our support to the TFG directly through the Central Bank of Somalia. This is basically a test case to see if it works in a way that satisfies the rules and regulations that we must observe when disbursing public funds. In other words, we wish to see this money create improved services in the city of Mogadishu. If we do, we will give more. Although the main aim is to bring an end to the perennial humanitarian crisis in Somalia, Norway shall continue to be a major partner with regard to humanitarian assistance to Somalia. We want to commend the United Nations for taking steps to address the allegations in the latest report of the sanctions Committee’s Monitoring Group on Somalia (S/2010/91). We shall also continue our active support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the implementation of the Djibouti process, and the peace and reconciliation efforts in general, in close cooperation with the United Nations, as well as with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Realizing the paramount importance of the security issue in Somalia, we commend the efforts and sacrifices of the African Union and others, particularly the countries contributing troops and police to the African Union Mission in Somalia — Uganda and Burundi — in assisting the attempts of the TFG to stabilize the situation in the country, and we urge other countries that are in a position to do so to follow their lead. Peace and stability in Somalia are important not only to the Somalis themselves, but also to the entire Horn of Africa and far beyond. Norway has also been very active in countering piracy off the coast of Somalia. We have deployed a frigate to the region and chaired the last meeting of the Contact Group. Norway is also a substantial donor to the Trust Fund established here at the United Nations. Encouraging progress has been made and we look forward to continuing to work with other States and regional organizations on this matter.

I give the floor to Mr. Pedro Serrano, acting head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. Mr. Serrano: Let me thank you, Sir, for inviting the European Union (EU) to this timely and important debate. I also thank His Excellency Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, for his important statement. He can rest assured of the EU’s continued commitment to assisting Somalia. I also offer many thanks to African Union Commissioner Lamamra and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, for their presentations and very valuable work. The candidate countries Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey’ the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia; as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration. In the interest of brevity, let me summarize the main points of the written statement that has just been circulated. The continued deadly attacks against the Somalia peace process, the TFG and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are wreaking havoc on the lives of Somalia’s population. A comprehensive approach that incorporates reconciliation and outreach, security and development, human rights and cohesive governance is essential for tackling the challenges facing Somalia. The international community must therefore remain actively engaged. In 2009, the European Union enhanced its comprehensive approach to the region by adopting the European Union Horn of Africa policy. In pursuit of this policy, the European Union is now stepping up its engagement in support of the stabilization and development of Somalia. High Representative Ashton will shortly visit the region to reaffirm the European Union’s commitment to the fight against piracy and to explore the prospect of deepened cooperation with the countries of the region. The European Union welcomes recent efforts of the TFG and partners within Somalia to join together in ensuring broad-based stabilization and recovery at the federal, regional and local levels. The agreement between the TFG and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, signed in Addis Ababa on 15 March 2010, is particularly significant. The implementation of such commitments could be the stepping stone towards the completion of the outstanding transitional federal tasks pursuant to the transitional federal charter and the Djibouti Agreement of 2008. The international community should stand ready to support this process. Meanwhile, it is important that the TFG continue its outreach efforts in the framework of the Djibouti Agreement to enlarge the political base of the Government. The Transitional Federal Institutions should continue to work constructively to address the enormous challenges ahead. As the International Contact Group has underlined, it is also important to increase financial transparency and accountability. I pay tribute to the tireless efforts of the United Nations and the African Union and their respective Special Representatives, Ambassador Ould Abdallah and Ambassador Diarra, to bring peace to Somalia. The European Union has provided about €90 million to the African Union Mission in Somalia since its establishment in 2007. Uganda and Burundi are playing an essential role in implementing that mission. Hopefully other countries will join forces with them in contributing to AMISOM. On 7 April 2010 the European Union launched a military training mission in Somalia. The objective of this initiative, in line with resolution 1872 (2009), is to support the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia through the training of 2,000 Somali recruits. This contribution to the sustainable development of the Somali security sector should help provide a more secure living environment for ordinary Somalis. Operating in close cooperation and coordination with international partners, particularly the United Nations and the African Union, this training mission will be carried out in Uganda, where Somali forces are already undergoing instruction. I would like to thank the Ugandan Government for its active assistance to the European Union in this regard. I would also like to acknowledge the valuable support provided by the United States in key areas. The European Union is aware that the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia requires continued and comprehensive engagement. The European Union welcomes the work of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The European Union naval operation, Operation Atalanta, launched in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, is producing positive results, and its mandate has recently been extended. The forthcoming General Assembly debate on piracy will provide an occasion to discuss these initiatives further. Atalanta’s Operational Commander, Admiral Peter Hudson, will be one of the speakers. Effective means of bringing suspected pirates to justice are essential to a comprehensive approach, and neighbouring countries are to be commended for the assistance they have provided in this regard. It is important that the international approach to Somalia remain strategic, looking beyond urgent support to the security sector to also address longer- term development needs. The European Union has committed €215 million to development aid for the period 2008 to 2013, making the EU — together with its member States — the biggest donor to Somalia. Particular attention is being paid to governance, security and support to civil society, education, the productive sectors and rural development. In addition, the European Union will provide €35 million in humanitarian aid to Somalia in 2010. The international Conference on Somalia to be held in Istanbul at the end of May will offer us a fresh opportunity to address the various aspects of this crisis. It should give renewed impetus to international engagement in Somalia in the political, economic and social fields. The European Commissioner for Development, Mr. Andris Piebalgs, is planning to participate in the Conference. As I said at the beginning, the Council and Somalia can rest assured of the European Union’s firm engagement in Somalia.

I thank Mr. Serrano for his statement. I now give the floor to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, who wishes to make a further statement. Mr. Ould Abdallah: Thank you, Sir, for presiding over this meeting and for giving me the opportunity to speak once again. First of all, I appreciate your kind words and those of Council members addressed to me, my colleagues, my Office and the Secretary-General. Secondly, I note with great appreciation the Council’s renewed and practical interest in the situation in Somalia and in the progress made, which needs to be consolidated. We need to continue to support this Government, whatever difficulties it may have within the country. Without a Government there will be no progress. Thirdly, I would note in particular positive support for the increased integration of the United Nations system in order to help it to be better informed and more effective in delivering its various forms of assistance. I also note with appreciation the encouragement for the idea that the international community has to move back to Mogadishu to be closer to the victims and to be more effective. We cannot continue to address Somalia by remote control. Fourthly, the vast support for the Istanbul Conference on Somalia is most encouraging and will strengthen the Government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his peace efforts with all Somalis ready to talk stability and to set aside their arms. Finally, I call on all parties engaged in the process to help the timely and effective disbursement of stipends to members of parliament and to soldiers. Lack of payment is at the root of much of the crisis that the Government is living through. Regular payment or the lack thereof has a critical impact on stability within Somalia.

I now give the floor to Mr. Abdurahman Ibrahim, who wishes to make a further statement.

Mr. President, allow me to thank you once again for your dedication to this issue, Somalia. I would also like to thank the other members of the Security Council who also mentioned everything that is in their hearts about Somalia. I would also like to offer my heartfelt thanks to those countries whose taxpayers’ money has gone to Somalia, in particular, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan and Norway, as well as the European Union. I am also pleased to mention here, on behalf of my Government, and as stated in paragraph 25 of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234), that about $147.6 million in fulfilled pledges has already been received, thanks to payments from Belgium and the European Union. And, in paragraph 26, we see that $340,000 was paid to the Central Bank of Somalia. Council members can therefore see how much of the money that has been pledged to the Somali people has actually reached them. My Government would like to ask the international community what it would like us to show in the fight against terrorists who have a good “father” — they get a lot of money — when we are not getting anything at all. How can we fight against these terrorists who are destroying our people and our country, when Al-Shabaab and other groups are getting their money from their own fathers or their uncles? I thank Ahmedou Ould Abdallah and my brother the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. They keep fighting and talking every day, every single minute, about the situation in Somalia. And they are trying their very best to say whatever they can say about Somalia. But, to be frank and honest, nothing of what they say or what other friends of Somalia say has actually been perceived by the Somali people. I am sorry about that. As to the United Kingdom and the United States, yes, the United Kingdom is the largest donor to Somalia, having pledged $150 million to $180 million. The representative of the United Kingdom earlier mentioned $60 million as having been pledged to Somalia. A lot of money has been spent in the name of Somalia, but none has come to my Government. And I am responsible for the Somali people. If nobody trusts us, whom should they trust? The trust and responsibility of the people of Somalia lies in us. We should be trusted and held accountable for whatever is given to us to be distributed to the Somali people. If not, then we are not responsible parties. I would also like to express my appreciation for the reference to the Monitoring Group in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/234). I also thank the Norwegian representative for mentioning it as well. My Government has very seriously taken note of the Group’s report (S/2010/91). We have established a commission to further investigate the allegations. The findings will be shared with the members of the sanctions Committee. In spite of the fact that I myself have been falsely accused, I would like to assert to the Security Council that the Commission established by the Prime Minister will continue its investigations. The findings will also be shared with the Council. Everyone who has been accused will be accountable to the Commission. But if persons have been accused falsely or without basis, we would like the Security Council to take action against those who actually collected false reports. Many Somalis are now dying because of the report. The aid that is supposed to reach the Somali people is not reaching them. All members of the Council know that. The report has actually created quite a mess in my Government and among my people. Our enemies — Al-Shabaab and other groups — are laughing at us. They are very happy with what is coming from the report of the Security Council’s Monitoring Group. The enemies of Somalia are actually being helped by the Group’s report. Without thinking thoroughly or understanding what they were writing, the Group’s members helped Al-Shabaab and the terrorists. I would like for them to think carefully before they act. As the Somali Government, we are ready to take this issue seriously, to investigate and to take thorough action. I would like to thank every member of the Council who has spoken from the heart about helping the Somali people. In particular, we will never forget what Ahmedou Ould Abdallah is doing for the Somali people. I was one of the first to come from Asmara to meet with him in Nairobi to say that we would like to join the peace process. Here before the members of the Council, I would also like to thank the armed forces of Uganda and Burundi, whose members are paying with their own blood to ensure that Somalia can once again stand on its own feet. We and our children shall also remember all those who are helping us to achieve that.

I thank His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia for his additional statement. There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.