Bahrain News Agency
Monday, October 08, 2012
Jeddah: Oct. 8 -- (BNA) The Islamic Cooperation Organization (ICO)'s secretary-general, professor Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu emphasized the ICO's support of democratic transformation in Somalia, the building of peace, stability and development in order to restore Somalia's customary role in the Islamic family.
Professor Oğlu issued a statement on the occasion of his visit to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in which he asserted the significance of the visit which constitutes a strong message of support to the new Somali leadership and to stability and peace in the embattled country which has been torn apart by more than two decades of civil war.
Professor Oğlu also confirmed the ICO's continuous support in humanitarian aspects in Somalia since the inauguration of the organization's office which has overseen humanitarian relief operations in Mogadishu since March 2011.
Professor Oğlu is due to meet with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, the new Somali Premier Abdi Fareh Sherdoun Saeed and the Somali Parliament's Speaker Mohammed Sheikh Othman Jiwari as well as a number of Somali political leaders. He is also expected to visit camps of displaced victims of the 2011 drought in Somalia.(IY)