MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said on Tuesday that his country was committed to protecting its sovereignty after the second round of Turkish-mediated talks with Ethiopia, which commenced in Ankara on Monday, broke down.
“In this round of discussions, progress was made and Somalia is committed to protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity,” Fiqi said in a joint press statement with his Turkish and Ethiopian counterparts.
“As we prepare for the third round of talks, we are hopeful that the momentum we have built will lead to a final solution,” he added.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the third round of talks will be held on September 17.
Somalia representatives attending the indirect talks insisted that Addis Ababa retract a memorandum of understanding it had signed with the separatist region of Somaliland in January to lease a parcel of land along the Red Sea from authorities in Hargeisa. But Addis Ababa has showed no willingness to abandon the deal, which Mogadishu sees as a violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.
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