The leaders committee, have the honor to react to the suggestions made by Your Excellency Ambassador Bethtuel Kiplagat in relation to a number of issues passed through you by the IPF and outlined item per item as follows, during our latest encounter on the 30th September, 2003.

I. THREE WEEKS ADJOURNMENT OF THE CONFERENCE

The Somali Leaders Committee, after careful study of the aforesaid proposals have expressed their strong reservations against any adjournment, since that would jeopardize the continuity principle of the conference and, therefore affect the selection process already set on motion, as a beginning of the third phase of the conference.

The adjournment initiative would lead to a slow down of the speed of the conference and early conclusion of the process that most of the delegates have sought and wanted to be realized without hindrances of any sort. Any adjournment of the conference would bring about new risks of disruption, discontinuity, and uncertainties, which we need to be avoided.

Therefore, the leaders committee, are for a none postponement of the conference, under all circumstances, in order to keep the momentum with the view of not disappointing the expectations of the Somali people who have invested so much great hopes in the outcome of this conference.

RESERVATIONS MADE BY “G/8 GROUP ALLIANCE”


On our part, to end the ugly fratricidal war and lawlessness that has been reigning in Somalia for the last 13 years, we are committed to do whatever possible that could make the Somalia peace Process successful and inclusive, as demanded by the International Community, though we have our own reservations both the definition and applicability of the term “inclusively” especially in the context of the Somali peace process.




We are also required to show the courage to negotiate and to make compromises. Anyway, walking out of the conference every now and then would not help to conclude the process in good and mutually understood manner. But, it is only a sign of desperation, political immaturity and indifference to the plight of our people.

However, G/8 Group Political Alliance welcomes the ideas and the proposals jointly presented by the International Community and the Technical Committee of IGAD to adjourn the reconciliation conference for a period of 21 days, in order to persuade and convince them to return back to the Conference those who have unnecessarily pulled out of the process.

II. LEADERS RETREAT FOR MORE CONSULTATIONS

The leaders committee have already expressed their views on this matter and stick on to the contents of point number four of the our letter submitted to the chairman of ITC dated on 23rd of September, under the rubric of “Confidence building among leaders”.

However, the selection of the place for such a retreat has to be left entirely in the hands of ITC chairman, since the ITC office, as mentioned in our previous letter, is the only organ to determine all conditions of appropriate environment. Therefore, we do recommend that the period of the retreat takes place after the completion of the selection of the members of the parliament.

RESERVATIONS MADE BY “G/8 GROUP ALLIANCE”

As far as the retreat of the Somali Political Leaders is concerned, G/8 Group Political Alliance wholeheartedly accepted the proposal of confidence building among Leaders. We are deeply sure that this sort of encounter could really heal the existed sores and mistrusts within the Leaders. In this connection, we urge the Technical committee of IGAD proceed with immediate effect, the facilitation of this important program of confidence building.



III. EFFORTS OF PERSUASION VIS-À-VIS DJIBOUTI

The leaders committee are of the opinion that Djibouti’s positive role is essential and the press statement released by the leaders committee, on 30th Sept. 2003 on this issue clearly states that an appeal should be addressed to the government of Djibouti, so as to make her resume its role of co-leadership within the ITC, giving consideration to this final critical stage of the conference and taking into account the respect of the Somali people towards the sisterly Republic of Djibouti.

The statement also stresses among other things that the conference should not be sacrificed or held hostage for those uncooperative Somali parties who have chosen to stay away and called on them to rejoin the process, like any of those other brothers, who have devoted themselves for the establishment of a national federal government and satisfactory conclusions of the process.

In addition, the leaders committee have decided to send an official message of plea (copy in Somali is attached herewith) to his H.E. Ismail Omar Ghelleh which shall be handed over to him by special envoys mandated by the Somalia Leaders Committee, urging that Djibouti resumes its role within the ITC, for the sole purpose of helping Somalia to overcome its present difficulties and strengthening bonds of brotherhood and good neighborliness between the brotherly peoples of the two sister countries.



IV Charter revisiting attempts

It is important to underline that the only issue which has been fully debated was that of the charter which was, as we know,prepared by one of the six special committees. The adoption of the charter was a landmark achievement, despite few dissenting voices. It is doubtless that the charter was based on the concept of federalism and the distribution of power, plus establishment of different centers of power distributions.

Therefore, the road has been opened for the formation of the parliament, as a central base for the establishment of other state institutions.
It would be a very big mistake to reverse this process in order to appease unrealistic suggestions not reflecting the level of wishes of the Somali people, and the unavoidable emerging realities ahead. The unity of Republic of Somalia, as established on the eve of access to independence, has to be preserved, as an internationally recognized state, at this stage of its life and that can only be possible through the establishment of a federal system of a government. That fundamental choice as enshrined in the charter must be respected.


THE SOMALI LEADERS’ COMMITTEE
 

Faafin: SomaliTalk.com | October 3, 2003

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