General Assembly President and Somali Minister discuss security in Mogadishu

The President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, held talks today with the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, in which he discussed the developments in the security situation in the country.

Hussein Arab Isse, who is also Minister of Defense, told Mr. Al-Nasser that the security situation had significantly improved in Mogadishu, the capital, since last July.

During the meeting, Mr. Al-Nasser stressed the necessity of carrying through the implementation of the Somali Roadmap adopted last September to ensure meeting the August 2012 deadline for the end of the transition process, and reaffirmed the Assembly’s readiness to offer assistance to the Somali people.

The Roadmap spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August in the areas of security, writing a constitution, reconciliation and good governance.

It also calls on the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to lead the implementation, working with the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP), regional entities, and all sectors of society, including women, the business community, religious leaders, elders and youth.

The two men also discussed the agenda for the upcoming London Meeting on Somalia, which will be held on 23 February with the aim of addressing the issue of development and humanitarian aid to the country.