Foreign Minister Emma Bonino received Djibouti’s Head of Government, Mohamed, at the Farnesina today, 2 September 2013. Talks focused on the situation in Somalia, the Horn of Africa and bilateral relations.
Minister Bonino told the prime minister that she appreciated Djibouti’s traditional role of moderation in the region and exchanged views with him on the current situation in Somalia. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the agreement reached on 28 August by the Somali Federal Government and the representatives of Jubaland – a significant development in the formation of the Somali federation –and agreed on the need for its rapid implementation.
Minister Bonino confirmed Italy’s strong commitment to the stabilisation of Somalia and reminded her counterpart of the Italian and European initiatives for the country. These include the conference on “A new deal for Somalia” due to take place on 16 September in Brussels with the participation of the President of Djibouti, Guelleh. The last preparatory meeting for the Conference will take place in Rome on 9 September, to decide on the final communiqué. Minister Bonino also asked Prime Minister Mohamed if a Djibouti political delegation could take part in the IPF ministerial taking place in New York on 26 September to bolster political support for the actions taken by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for the stabilisation of Somalia.
Foreign Minister Emma Bonino and Prime Minister Mohamed also agreed on the good state of bilateral relations and examined the possibility of converting a second tranche of Djibouti’s debt. They also discussed forms of industrial collaboration in the renewable energy and water treatment sectors.
