Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The European Union's Political and Security Committee (PSC),
the key body that contributes to define and monitor the EU's crisis
response as part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, made
its first visit to Somalia.The visit underlined the commitment of
the EU to the new political dispensation and the people of Somalia, and
the extensive support for the normalisation of the situation in Somalia
both politically and in terms of security.
The PSC Ambassadors met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the
Federal Government. They welcomed the progress in the political and
reconciliation processes and in the field of security and development,
and discussed the challenges the Government is still facing to rebuild
the country. The EU PSC reiterated the EU's continued support to
creating peace, stability and prosperity in Somalia and in the wider
Horn region. They encouraged continued consolidation of the peace and
governance achievements. President Hassan Sheikh and the PSC
Ambassador's underscored that "The New Deal for Somalia Conference",
which will be jointly hosted by Somalia and the EU in Brussels in
September this year, will provide a unique opportunity to galvanise the
international community around the New Deal and the Government's vision
up to 2016.
The representatives of the PSC also visited the EU Training Mission that recently moved from Uganda to Somalia.
Security
remains a key aspect for stability in Somalia and the EUTM operation's
move to Mogadishu is part of the paradigm shift of engaging inside
Somalia and in close partnership with the authorities.