“Somalia has become a symbol of the relations we wish to establish with our brothers in Africa”

Holding a joint press conference with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson of the UN as part of the 6th High-Level Partnership Forum on Somalia, President Erdoğan said: “With Somalia, Turkish model of aid has gained recognition in literature. We, in cooperation with international community and countries in the region, will continue to work until Somalia becomes a country of peace and stability.”

Beginning his speech by wishing the 6th High-Level Partnership Forum on Somalia yield beneficial results for Somalia as well as all the other countries in the region, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hoped that the consultations to be conducted and the decisions to be agreed on during the Forum would conduce to the development and peace of Somalia.

“Somalia, which was on the verge of destruction and totally hopeless back in 2011, is rising to its feet with the efforts we and our international partners make. Once identified with instability, chaos, conflicts and humanitarian crises, Somali, thanks be to Allah, is now the name of the hope in the region,” President Erdoğan said, underlining the historic importance of the Forum.

“TURKEY LENT SUPPORT TO THE REBUILDING OF SOMALIA”

Adding that Somalia still faces some problems, President Erdoğan stated that many issues of high significance, in particular the fight against terrorism and the rebuilding of the state along with its all institutions, were yet to be handled. President Erdoğan, however, underlined that the headway Somalians had made so far should be enough to keep the hopes regarding the future of the country alive.

Describing the elections scheduled to take place this year as the most crucial stage of this process, President Erdoğan said: “The Somali Government and the regional leaders present here, have really made praiseworthy endeavor concerning the issue of electoral system. They have taken a huge step toward consolidating a culture of consensus as well as finding peaceful solutions to problems. I hereby congratulate them once more.”

Underscoring that Turkey through its all state bodies and NGOs as well as official and voluntary personnel lent support to the rebuilding of Somalia, President Erdoğan continued: “Somalia has become a symbol of how we view Africa and of the brotherly relations we wish to establish with Africa. With Somalia, Turkish model of aid has gained recognition in literature. We, in cooperation with international community and countries in the region, will continue to work until Somalia becomes a country of peace and stability.”

“WE BUILT OUR BIGGEST EMBASSY BUILDING IN MOGADISHU”

Recalling that they were building the biggest embassy building in the world in Mogadishu as a symbol of Turkey’s support to and solidarity with Somalia and the embassy building would be inaugurated in the upcoming months, President Erdoğan said: “We wish the international community to boost its efforts and assume a more active role on the ground in Somalia.”

Pointing to the need for more courageous and decisive steps regarding investments, President Erdoğan voiced his wish that Turkey-Somalia Business and Investment Forum, held the previous day, would serve as an example for all of the international investors.

Expressing that support in-kind and in-cash over the last five years from Turkey to Somalia amounted to $370 million in addition to $130 million non-governmental organizations provided to Somalia in aid, President Erdoğan shared that Turkey’s private sector investments in Somalia were worth $100 million dollar approximately. Adding that the monthly support of $2 million dollar would continue to be supplied regularly in the upcoming period, President Erdoğan expressed that public transport would start operating in Mogadishu following the donation of 30 public-transport vehicles from İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality as duly overhauled.

PRESIDENT MOHAMUD OF SOMALIA: “SOMALIA WILL NO LONGER BE AN UNGOVERNABLE LAND”

In his statement President Mohamud of Somalia expressed that Somalia’s international partners lent their supports to Somalia both in good and bad moments and billions of dollars had arrived in Somalia over the span of last 20 years. Underscoring the vital importance of $500-million aid from Turkey, President Mohamud said: “This aid is crucial due to the manner it has been used. This aid has been utilized to make the life of an ordinary Somalian better. Turkey has always provided the practical and useful aid we expect from our international partners.”

Voicing his thanks and appreciations for those providing support to Somalia, President Mohamud stated that 6^th High-Level Partnership Forum on Somalia marked the beginning of a new period. Pointing out that a national development plan had been prepared, President Mohamud continued: “A very successful transition will be conducted in Somalia. This will take place in accordance with the past agreements and frameworks and Somali will get rid of this fragile situation and civil war. The anarchy following the civil war will come to a halt and Somalia will no longer be an ungovernable land.”

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL JAN ELIASSON OF THE UN: “ERDOĞAN’S VISIT TO SOMALIA IN 2011 IS GROUNDBREAKING AND EXAMPLARY”

Extending his appreciations to President Erdoğan for hosting the Forum, Mr. Eliasson described President Erdoğan’s visit to Somalia in 2011 as groundbreaking and exemplary and further said that for this reason international community owed a lot to President Erdoğan. Mr. Eliasson also thanked President Mohamud for bringing to Forum not only the government representatives but also the regional leaders. Pointing out that the international community was working in cooperation with Somali government and in an understanding of respect for the sovereignty of the country, Mr. Eliasson underlined that solidarity, one of the most important concepts nowadays, was displayed in Somalia.