Comments :: Interview with US Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador John Yates

"My message to the people in Asmara is make peace not war" Amb. Yates

by Ahmed Gure
Hiiraan Online
Sunday, June 22, 2008

US Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador John Yates

United States Special Envoy for

Somalia

Ambassador John Yates spoke to Hiiraan Online about

support for peace agreement in

Djibouti

, UN Peacekeeping forces and the reconstruction and development of

Somalia

. We reached Ambassador Yates in Nairobi,

Kenya

where he shared his thoughts with us via telephone.

HOL – Let me first start with the agreement in Djibouti. Ambassador Yates as you know the Somalia people have seen 18 long years of failed Agreements and abandoned Accords - brokered by a third party and praised by the international community. Do you think this new agreement in Djibouti will be different and Why?

Amb. Yates : Well that is a good question. We are all hopeful that it can be different. Obviously right now we are very early in the post agreement stages and the implementations; we hope will be very productive in the development of Somalia, which is the important part, of course. The United States for sure is going to be pushing on all the leverages it can to help in the implementations.

I think we will be taking a lead in the UN to get UN forces. I think we will be continuing the humanitarian and other kinds of assistances we have been providing in large amounts over the years. We will be continuing our support for AMISOM until they can transition into the UN forces.

We will be working with all other partners … and the two sides. I would like to say one more thing, We don't want to approach this like a pole vaulter, I don't think I can make 16 feet so I'm going to fail. We're trying to approach this like we can succeed and the Somali's are too.

The other thing of course as we all know is that after 18 years there's a lot fatigue, a lot of dismay and I think that more people are ready to accept this time. At least I hope so.

HOL : So you would say that you are very optimistic?

Amb. Yates : I am hopeful, as you know there are still whole bunch of people out there who are taking the attitudes that it's the wrong agreement, that it doesn't do the right thing. The people who stayed down in Asmara are making negative statements. The people who are launching attacks on TFG soldiers are making negative statements so I can't say we have everyone onboard yet but we're going to try.

HOL : Everything on the Djibouti Accord hinges on what the Security Council (or the international community) does - that is: authorizing peacekeepers and deploying them to Somalia in four months. Do you think that will happen in light of what had happen in Darfur (the UN was not able to deliver); What the US government is willing do about this?

Amb. Yates : Well, let me just correct one thing it's not everything that depends on the international community. The first thing it depends on is the improvement of the situation in Somalia. But the short answer is: the United States is the President in the Security Council in this month of June and if the conditions are there to get a Resolution to pass we're ready to see some sort of peace keeping operation. As you can imagine we are going to be pushing very hard.

HOL : Somalia is a collapsed State, it cannot of its own stand on its feet - it needs international rebuilding efforts that go beyond humanitarian aid- current Somalia gets food aid. Many problems stem from the fact of this collapsed nature of the state institution. In your reading, is the international community ready to go beyond the current hand out to real rebuilding, and more specifically do you think that this sort of rebuilding operation is feasible for the United States?

Amb. Yates : Yes, last line of the agreement is, as I'm sure you already know – the parties also considered a priority to convene within the next 6 months an international conference aimed at addressing Somalia's reconstruction and development. That is what we are committed to, both with the political pressure and the money. The first steps toward convening the reconstruction and development

HOL : Another thing I would like to address with you is the fact that those who oppose the current deal see a lot of ambiguity in the Accord such as the word Sufficient - that is Ethiopia will leave when there are sufficient Peacekeepers on the ground- what is a sufficient number.

Amb. Yates : What is sufficient will depend entirely on what the situation is, especially in Mogadishu, but in Somalia. I think that the Secretary General’s Special Representative and the members of the Security Council who rightly believe that they would not need a Darfur-sized number of forces but maybe something, you know, something twice the size AMISOM was supposed to be. But I can't tell you if its going to be 1000, 12050 or 16,000 I just can't tell you, it'll all depends; and that of course is what the Joint Committee on Security arrangements which should come into effect 15 days after the signing. We're going to be having to look at issues like that in conjunction with help from the international community and experts.

HOL : Do you think that the peace-keeping force that was supposed to change the Ethiopian troops can come from African countries or do you think it would be more preferable if they came from Arab or Muslim countries?

Amb. Yates : I think that the short answer is yes to all of them; the peacekeeping could continue to be the African troops over there and AMISOM who will become then under the United Nations. They could come from coalition of willing nations such as - you mentioned the other Muslim countries or they could come from peacekeeping force from whoever can give you troops under the UN Security Council resolution. It could be all of those.

HOL : Do you think that the US can be apart of one of these potential peace keeping forces?

Amb. Yates : Given our commitment right now … I think that it is unlikely that we would have troops on the ground but I'm sure we would be in a position to provide logistics, moving them, equipments and supplies and things like that. I don't speak for the government on these issues, but given all the things going on right now it's highly unlikely.

HOL : The TFG, Ethiopia and the opposition groups are accused of war crimes - does the US support war crimes tribunal for those who committed war crimes?

Amb. Yates : The United States supports justice and humanity and does not support impunity for crimes committed. This is the issue that you will see in Article 9, about a High Level Committee that considers justice, political cooperation and reconciliation. There have been a lot of ways that this problem had been treated in post-conflict situation in Africa and elsewhere. South Africa, as you know, had the Peace and Reconciliation Commission as did Ghana. Rwanda had actually war crimes trials at both the international and local levels in Rwanda; and Sierre Leone has had the same thing as well. So, this is something that the high level committee is going to have to work out and find out the best way for reconciliation in Somalia. Let me just say you've talked about the last 6 months or even 18 months the intent of this is for all the crimes that have been done since 1991, nobody is just focusing on 2007.

HOL : Amnesty International and all the major human rights organizations said that the situation with the Ethiopian Army, TFG and the opposition groups is the most recent war crimes committed.

Amb. Yates : Let me just say that we know it's been a very tragic time in Somalia and it continues and as wonderful as Amnesty International is as an organization when they made the report, they went to Hargeisa and Nairobi, they didn't go into Somalia… I am not saying nothing in the report is right or wrong. All I am saying is that it is very hard to judge from publications and the international media.

HOL : What is your message to the Asmara based opposition groups and other Somalis who are suspicious of this Accord as well as the intentions of the US government?

Amb. Yates : My message to the people in Asmara is make peace not war. I cannot imagine why people would want to continue fighting; it is just not fathomable to me. Do you agree with that?

HOL : Of course, we're tired of the fighting and we're strongly advocating peace and patiently waiting for stability.

HOL : Finally what is the reaction of US the war between Djibouti and Eritrea

Amb. Yates : Well, I think that it's one more tragic event in the Horn Africa. Eritrea has had its border skirmishes with just about all its neighbors. I understand that the Djiboutian Foreign Minister said that things have stabilized again and they are eager in maintaining some sort of ceasefire. It is not a good situation.

HOL : Thank you, Ambassador Yates for your time.

Amb Yates : It has been a great pleasure. Thank you.

Interview conducted by Ahmed E Gure

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13 comment(s)

nadia208 @ 6/24/2008 4:47 PM EST

Howle,
Anna waan yaabanahay. Runtii wax danta somalida ka hadla adigaa ka jira.
Ma yaqaaniin inay ka hadlaan dhul laga shaqaysto iyo wax la beerto. U fiirso,
waxay ugu jecel yihiin maqaalada ka hadlaaya dagaalada iyo dad badan aa la dilay.

Qabiilkayga qaawan ee gaajaysan aa kaaga ka fiicanna wax cusub ma aha. iyo Geelaan
dadkii lahaay ka xadnaa waana ku faanaa.
w

am201 @ 6/24/2008 11:19 AM EST

Thank you HOL for the interview. I see that Ambassador like to hide the human rights abuse committed in Somalia especially their allay Ethiopia. I hope that ambassadir yates will take the lead and bringing to justice to those who committed crimes in Somalia (TFG, The Ethiopians and Shabaab.
I am not expecting the US government will take that any time soon as long as Bush adminstration is in power. America whom we know who fight for human rights all over the world will shin again from the ashes when Barack Obama come to power.

halganka @ 6/24/2008 8:36 AM EST

haddii Somaliweyn ay 'dhimatay", maxaa ay soomaalida isu
ursataa oo ay isu raadsadaan??

adduunka meeshii uu ka aado qofka soomaaliga ahi
wuxuu ku bilaabi haddii uu magaalo yimaado
"walaal makhaayad soomaali meesha ma ku taalaa???

marka waxaa iska cad in dhaqan ahaan iyo dhaqaale ahaan
aaneysan soomaali kala maarmin, taasi waxay markhaati
u tahay in soomaali weyn tahay xaqiiq jirta oo
nool walibana si fiican u kobceysa maadaama dalweynaha
iyo ummadda soomaaliyeed ay dagaal kula jiraan
Itoobiya.

howle @ 6/23/2008 10:33 AM EST

MARBA ADDUUNKA WAXAA LAGA SHEEKEEYAA TAARIIKH HADA WAXAA II MUUQATA IN SOOMAALIYA NOQON DOONTO MEEL LAGA SHEEKEEYO MARKA AAD FIIRISO MASKAXDA YAR OO AAN KU SHAQAYN CAQLIGA SIDAA U BADAN OO KU JIRTA QABAAAILKA SOOMAALIDA OO KU SALAYSAN ANAA KAA SAREEYA IYO ANAA KAA SAREEYA WAA WAX YAAB LEH IYO WAXA KA SOCDA OO SIYAASAD AHAAN LALA DAMACSAN YAHAY INAY KA HIRGASHO SOOMAALIYA KHAASATAN QOFKA WAXAAD MOODAA INUUSAN LAHAN CAQLI MARKA UU HADLAYO AMA WAX CABIRAYO WAXAA U MUUQDA OO KALIYA REER HEBEL YUU KAA RAYN MAAHA INUU XATAA LA SOO BAXO XABAD ROOTI AH OO KALIA XATAA MA KARO DHULKII WAA BANAAN SHAQADII WAA LOO DIIDAY DADKII DADKII WAA SOO TOOSAAN SANKAA CIRKA LOO TAAGAYAA MARKA QORRAXDU QABATO CAJAAIB SHIIKHOO NOOCAAN OO KALE WELIGIIN MA ARAGTEEN ANIGU YAABAYE ADINKUNA MA YAABTEEN

@ 6/23/2008 2:26 AM EST

Interview that you did with Hiiraan Online was very informative and it is refreshing to know that the US is on board with the peace agreement and we are looking for the implementations on the accord to be carried out and we hope that the US with its leverage and power to support this peace accord and bring much needed stability and hope to Somalia.

Last Friday the head of the ICU Sheik Sharif met with you. This is a positive step because it show’s that the US is attempting to contact and maintain a diplomatic relationship with the ICU. This is something many Somali’s feel should have been done earlier.

The current situation in Somalia would have been better now if you supported Islamic Courts when they came to power in Mogadishu in June of 2006. This is a shame because more innocent lives could have been saved and many Somali’s would not have been displaced.

There is a really good chance that change could be near if you isolate the hardliners of ICU and welcome the moderates like Sheik Sharif.

Good journalism, HOL keep up the good work!

Somali_Unity123 @ 6/23/2008 1:41 AM EST

fi*lthy somalis always blames other people for their mistakes

past is past..what can we do now to save waht is left of our people

TR*ABLISM, FAKE ISLAMISM, EXPANSIONISTS, GROUP LOYALISM AND HA*TERED TOWARDS OTHER T*RIBES WILL NOT GET US ANYWHERE
WE BEEN THERE DONE THAT FOR 18 YRS..

shabeel @ 6/22/2008 1:23 PM EST

Did he put down Amnesty International? He knows that his government is culpable and is complicit of war crimes! They sponsored it and blessed the worst crimes ever committed in Somalia by the Ethiopian brutal forces of occupation. The ruthless warlords are on C.I.A payroll!
We see the hypocrisy and double-standard here. He says Hargeisa is not in Somalia? What does that tell you about him?

baghdad bob @ 6/22/2008 12:45 PM EST

They simply cannot sustain the war financially and hence the peace deal. yates we will get back our freedom on our own terms and not on yours. America is running broke and they are waging wars on borrowed money from China, remember the american economy is 14 trillion dollars of which 9 trillion is borrowed! their Wars all around the world are not sustainable any more in the current hard economical times considering the increase in fuel and food prices, remember soldeirs march on their belly as Napoleon once said and for that reason Ethiopia is unable to pay for the upkeep of their soldeirs and the americans are reluctant and that is why they are running around with a bogus peace deal, rather a face saving deal. the struggle for our freedom must go on and we must contribute generously brothers and sisters.

fiqicigaal @ 6/22/2008 12:26 PM EST

In the eyes of the biggest satan of the century America peaceful and stable Somalia will not serve its interest in the Horn and that is the bottom line . As for Mr Yates , well , i don't know what he feels deep down in his concience about the situation but i doubt if he can disagree with his boss at this time and moment and apparently he hasn't got the guts to do so .

mustafa-ii @ 6/22/2008 9:24 AM EST

I'm very very dissapointed that HOL did not ask the envoy about the negative and the distractive role American is playing in Somali affairs. Questions such the US Support and fund of cruel warlords against the popular ICU, its politcal and financial support of Ethiopian invasion of Somalia and the subsequent genocide needed to be asked. Reading what the envoy has to say made me to think, America did not change its evil attitude against the Somali nation and has no desire to see a peacefull and strong Somalia to emerge. Whether this agreement works or not I'm sure the envoy knows well the resistance is ready and are stronger more than ever to continue the war to liberate the country from Ethiopians occupation and enslavement.

almansoor @ 6/22/2008 8:43 AM EST

america is responsible to every thing going on in mogadishu, that u can see this guy's remarks, he was asked if the criminal individuals should be brought in justice, u see his answer to that question. he denied all the investigations made by the amnesty international and humanrights watch by saying those organizations wen to Hargeisa and nairobi and didn't go to somalia that clears how united state is cleary turning down the fact going in somalia and am sure that there will no peace in somalia till united state's involvement in somalia got rid of.

kormar @ 6/22/2008 8:11 AM EST

gardaro waa mida keentay wadanka inuu sidan ahaado waa mid cidna aysan qaadan karin mareekankuna wuu ogyahay lakin waxaa layiraahdaa dantaada maqaar eey ayaa loogu seexdaa somali way lasocotaa waxa jira hadana waxaa umaleesaa inay doonayaa inay ka garhelaan mareekan oo adeegsanaya cudud iyo caqli waqtigan ugu sareeya caalamka wa inaan jaleecanaa si aanan u jabin taas waxaan uga danleeyahay hadaa uun soo taagnaano waa ina la jiirayaa ee aan jiifjiifsano si aan danteena u gaarno qosolno markaan danleenahay ooyno si aan umuraara dilaacino cadowgeena markaan helno awoodna aan aanagoo istusin isticmaalo si cadowgu ugaranin wajiyadaada badan .waa tabo aduunka maanta lagu maro.
Waxaan rabaa inaan wax yar iraahdo Firinbi qabiil waa waxa marwalba inoo nugleenaya cadowgeena majeerteen waa dad soomaaliyeed oo sheeq shariif iyo dad wanaagsan ay ka buuxaan ee aflagaadada ka haroo adigu qabiil baad ka dhalatee inta aan kaaga fiiriso ma ka maqan yihiin kuwa xun waa maya qabaailada oodhana waa sidaas ee dadkaaga dhinac ka raac.

cxasan @ 6/22/2008 4:56 AM EST

thank you HoL for asking the ambassador all those burning questions. but as we all know America sponsored Ethiopia to invade Somalia and committ all sort of crimes angainst humanity. and as he defended Ethiopia's dirt crimes, this was predictably.