Hiiraan Online

Somali FM Beileh delivering his key note speech to Spanish politicians, academics and policy makers

Dr. Beileh who arrived in Spain’s capital, Madrid, on Sunday night met with senior members of the Spanish government including Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, Mr. Alberto Virella, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the head of Africa region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meetings with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the head of the Africa region at the Spanish Foreign Ministry took place in their respective headquarters in Madrid and centred on the creation and fostering of Bilateral cooperation between the two nations, Somalia’s reconstruction and tackling piracy at sea.

The Spanish Foreign Minister and the Director of the Spanish International development agency expressed great interest in assisting Somalia’s reconstruction and strengthening its security. The Spanish Foreign Minister Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo personally discussed what contributions his country can make to Somalia with Mr. Beileh and he showed great interest in funding a number of security related activities and projects in the country such as the Somali government’s Give Your Gun and Go to School (GIGS) programme which aims to establish vocational training courses and strategies for children between 10-17 years of age who were and are unable to be absorbed into the normal school system. The Spanish Foreign Minister went on to confirm that his government will continue supporting Somali maritime security through the European Union Naval Operations Atalanta which they are already a part of in order to tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia.

In the afternoon, after completing his meetings with the Spanish Foreign Ministers and the head of the Spanish Development Agency, Mr. Abdirahman Beileh delivered a key note speech at the Real Instituto Elcano, the main Spanish Think Tank dealing with international affairs. Mr. Beileh’s speech focused on Security in the Horn of Africa, the fight against terrorism and the reconstruction of Somalia. The speech was delivered to an audience of academics, various experts on Africa and Professionals as well as policy makers at the Real Instituto Elcano headquarters. A debate followed the Somali Foreign Ministers speech under the Chatham House rules in which Mr. Beileh answered questions from the audience.

Spanish FM welcomes his Somali counterpart to the Spanish Foreign Ministry

In his key note speech Mr. Beileh argued that Somalia as a nation, despite its many over reported problems, is on the mend and with time and continued international support, turn the corner from a fragile to a stable state. Mr. Beileh pointed to Somalia’s past successes before the civil war as an example of what his country is capable of if given time and the necessary support to develop its institutions and people. However, the challenge of achieving this was not lost on him.

“The reconstruction of Somalia, apart from inclusive politics and public empowerment, requires the nurturing of and investment in human capital, regional and global cooperation on development and, most importantly, patience. However, before all of this, Somalis will, and must have genuine internal dialogue about how they want to govern themselves and where they want to go as a nation,” said Dr. Beileh.

On the issue of security in the Horn of Africa, the Somali Foreign Minister made clear that it is not only a Somali issue even if AlShabaab, the Islamist militant group, hails from there. To tackle insecurity in the Horn and to confront and defeat AlShabaab there needs to be a Horn of Africa wide government to government cooperation urged Mr. Beileh.

“The best way to confront such a war is for neighbours to cooperate, share intelligence and coordinate their security and military activities. Articulation of a common security policy is necessary for countries in the horn of Africa. We recognize the need for a holistic and regional approach to such a menace and we intend to act on this,” said Dr. Beileh.

Mr.Abdirahman Beileh concluded his key note speech at the Spanish Think Tank by emphasizing that security, peace and development in the Horn of Africa and in particular his home nation Somalia, will be beneficial for both Spain and other European Union member States as well as Somalia as it will allow for both groups to achieve their own individual and very different public policy goals. Furthermore, he urged Spain to use its global influence to support his nation’s development and progress.

“Spain was once the worlds most powerful and influential nation and it still enjoys great diplomatic authority and respect across the world. This influence and authority can be put to good use assisting my country, Somalia,” concluded Dr. Abdirahman Beileh.

The Somali Foreign Minister will continue his dialogue with key Spanish government officials on issues of concern and interest to both nations on the last day of this visit today. 

HOL English News Desk