United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gives a speech during a donor conference to raise funds for Somalia, in Brussels April 23, 2009. Ban urged international donors on Thursday to provide more funds to help Somalia fight piracy and restore order after two decades of anarchy.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon`s remarks to the International Conference in Support of the Somalia Security Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in Brussels today, 23 April:
On behalf of the United Nations system, I want to express my deepest thanks to all who have worked to make this Conference a reality ‑‑ the Government of Somalia, the African Union and the European Union.
Many actors are here with one common purpose: securing peace for the people of Somalia. In a larger sense, the issues before us highlight the inter-connected nature of the challenges of our age. Unattended problems rise and reverberate in various corners of the globe. They spill into the seas.
I speak here of lawlessness and insecurity; State collapse; the crisis of refugees and the internally displaced; the economic and ecological crisis; and, of course, piracy. All have an impact beyond borders. All are linked.
After all, piracy is not a water-borne disease. It is a symptom of anarchy and insecurity on the ground. Dealing with it requires an integrated strategy that addresses the fundamental issue of lawlessness in Somalia. That is why we are here ‑‑ to get beyond the headlines and write a new chapter for Somalia`s future.
Despite the obstacles we know well, there is hope in the Horn of Africa. Somalia is at a crossroads. The UN-sponsored Djibouti peace process has produced a broad-based Government. That Government is taking the hard road to peace. It is reaching out to forge national reconciliation, making difficult but necessary concessions, broadening the base of support.
We should give strong credit to the progress the new Government has made in two short months. As a result, the Somali people have the best chance in a generation to end their suffering and move toward a better and more stable future. We must push open this window of opportunity.
Somalia needs support in key areas: first, to establish the Transitional Federal Government`s authority throughout the country; second, to rebuild State institutions; third to address the humanitarian emergency; and to facilitate economic recovery.
This will not happen overnight. Today we take a vital step by helping the new leadership meet the first responsibility of any Government: keeping its people safe and secure. This requires a prudent political strategy. I urge all parties to work with the Government to solidify the consensus for reconciliation. Let us show those Somalis still outside the Djibouti process that the time for peace has come.
At the same time, the Somali people must see the clear dividends of national reconciliation reflected in their communities and in their lives. Our support ‑‑ and this Conference – is, therefore, designed first and foremost to enhance the security of Somalia. It is based on two pillars: strengthening Somalia`s security institutions and supporting AMISOM`s ability to help the country.
First and most critically, the development of Somali security institutions: with the assistance of international partners, the Government has begun the process of building the National Security Force and the Somali Police Service. This is crucial to the future of Somalia. It is also central to providing the safety and security needed for humanitarian workers to continue their lifesaving activities. The Somali Government has presented a specific and credible action plan for the next three months. We should encourage them and help them succeed.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (R) and Somalia`s President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (L) address a news conference at the end of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. International donors have pledged more than $250 million to help Somalia boost security and restore order, a senior European Union official said on the sidelines of a donors conference on Thursday.
Today I call on donors to contribute, through the United Nations Trust Fund, to Government efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Joint Security Committee. I also urge bilateral partners to step forward with support for training and development for Somali security forces. At the same time, the Government must establish solid procedures to ensure that these forces are inclusive, and that they protect civilians and respect human rights and the rule of law.
The only lasting solution for security in Somalia is one that is owned by the Somalis. This process will take time. It will be costly. But above all, it will be an investment ‑‑ a vital investment at a crucial time to nurture a fragile process and secure a long troubled part of the world.
Let me turn to the second pillar of this Conference: strengthening AMISOM. African Union troops in Somalia are serving bravely under very difficult and even dangerous conditions. They are there to help the people of Somalia develop their own security. They come from countries which have themselves suffered conflict. Many soldiers have lost their lives in service.
The United Nations provides logistical assistance. But help is also urgently needed to pay allowances for troops and police, and acquire essential equipment such as tents and armoured vehicles. We must ensure that AMISOM has what it needs to fulfil the mandate authorized by the African Union and the UN Security Council.
The support we are offering today must not, however, come at the cost of humanitarian assistance. Nearly half of the Somali population is now facing a humanitarian emergency or acute food and livelihood crisis. I, therefore, take this opportunity to remind all Member States of the critical funding shortage for the World Food Programme`s (WFP) Emergency Operation, which still requires $168 million through the end of 2009.
In the eyes of some, Somalia may have become synonymous with hopelessness and lawlessness. Yet the same might have been said not long ago about Sierra Leone or Liberia. Change can happen, but not on its own. It takes determined leadership and international partnership. By showing strong, tangible, practical support, the international community can help the new Somali Government advance from a position of strength. By acting together, we can show the people of Somalia that dialogue delivers clear returns in their daily lives.
Our strategy for Somalia is based on a new partnership among the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the donors and the Somalis themselves. Strong coordination is critical. I urge all to work together to ensure that we maximize investment, minimize gaps and avoid duplication of effort. By helping the Government gradually extend its authority, we are taking direct aim at global challenges such as piracy.
The equation is clear: more security on the ground will mean less piracy on the seas. In this connection, I wish to thank Member States who, in cooperation with the Government of Somalia, have provided and continue to provide naval escorts for ships carrying WFP humanitarian food to Somalia.
I look forward to the day when we focus on the longer-term ‑‑ creating livelihoods and rebuilding infrastructure. To get there, we here today must act. The risks of not supporting the new Government are too high and the costs of failure too enormous.
We have a unique opportunity to support leaders who have shown a commitment to building peace and rebuilding the Somali State. By opening the space for security, we open the door to a better life for Somalia`s people. Now is the time. Let us make the investment.
International conference on SomaliaBrussels, April 23, 2009
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (L) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso address a joint news conference ahead of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. Ban urged international donors on Thursday to provide more funds to help Somalia fight piracy and restore order after two decades of anarchy.
"We will not end piracy on the high seas of Somalia unless we bring development to the towns and villages"
José Manuel Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission
I am delighted to welcome you to the European Commission for this most important conference. Important for Somalia; important for the region; and important for the international community as a whole.
The eyes of the media are upon us, not least because of the piracy crisis. The recent acts of piracy – which I condemn unreservedly, on behalf of the European Commission - are a major wake up call to the international community.
But it would be wrong to limit our response simply to the piracy itself: we must remember that it is the symptom, not the cause, of a much deeper problem in Somalia. My message to you today is that we will not end piracy on the high seas of Somalia unless we bring real and sustainable development to the towns and villages of Somalia.
If you open any world newspaper in these days, you could be forgiven for believing that there is no good news at all in Somalia. I applaud the efforts of the Somali Administration to ensure that the government is truly inclusive and representative of the people of Somalia, and I admire the President for taking the government back to Mogadishu. It was great to see the inaugural session of the Parliament just last month in Mogadishu for the first time since 2002. Your Excellency, the determination of your President to take command of the process gives us hope for the future.
So following Security Council Resolution 1863, there are positive developments, and here let me also here pay tribute to the efforts of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon; to your Special Representative Ould Abdallah, and – if I may – also to Louis Michel and others in the European Union for their unstinting efforts. The European Commission is in fact the single major donor at $85 million, and the European Union as a whole contributes almost half of the total aid.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana (L) talks with Somalia`s President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (R) during a joint news conference at the end of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. International donors have pledged more than $250 million to help Somalia boost security and restore order, a senior European Union official said on the sidelines of a donors conference on Thursday.
Of course, a lot of what has happened is not positive, and it would be wrong to pretend otherwise. Piracy, violence and lawlessness continue to plague the land and of course the seas of Somalia. Those that choose this path must not succeed. They must not stand in the way of the best chance in two decades - to give Somalia a future.
The immediate objective of the conference here today is the full funding of Somalia`s security sector for the next 12 months. This conference will be primarily judged on this – and here, let me assure you, the EU in general and the European Commission in particular, will not be found lacking. We can and must fund security, development, and humanitarian needs. We must have effective Somali security forces, we must have an effective Somali police force. We will support the re-creation of the Somali state and the renovation of its institutions.
But to be very frank with you, the high level participation at this conference makes it evident that we have a deeper purpose in being here. We are here to put Somalia back on track in the longer term, and I fully support this objective. The Somali people, grossly abused, deprived of their fundamental human rights, deserve a better deal.
The presence of the Somali Government here today at senior level is a powerful signal of the transitional government`s intention to take command of this process. Across all Somalia, there must be responsible government, of the people and for the people. An end to warlordism, and an end to piracy, an end to years of profiteering by a self- appointed politico-military caste.
So let today`s conference also begin to respond, in a fundamental way, to the daunting challenges faced by the Somali authorities in bringing back stability and peace to their country. Security is the starting point, but it cannot be the end-point. Pledges made today to meet the needs in the security sector should not overlook the needs for development. The only real and viable solution is to help Somalia from within: by pooling international efforts and supporting the new Government to build security, peace and stability.
Today`s conference must lay the foundations for a brighter future for the people of Somalia. A Somalia where universal human rights are respected in law, and applied throughout the land. A land where sailors profit from fishing and legal trade, not from piracy. A land where both the highways and the high seas are safe. A Somalia which is a strong and responsible regional player in a peaceful Horn of Africa. A democratic and proud Somalia which we look forward to welcoming back as a full member of the international community.
Of course there is a long way to go before we reach these bold objectives, but the path to that destination starts here.
So thank you all for coming today. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, thank you for your tremendous work in uniting with the African Union and the League of Arab States to call this meeting today. I declare this meeting open, and invite you, Sir, to address us with your vision for the future of Somalia.
Thank you.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon`s remarks to the International Conference in Support of the Somalia Security Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in Brussels today, 23 April:
On behalf of the United Nations system, I want to express my deepest thanks to all who have worked to make this Conference a reality ‑‑ the Government of Somalia, the African Union and the European Union.
Many actors are here with one common purpose: securing peace for the people of Somalia. In a larger sense, the issues before us highlight the inter-connected nature of the challenges of our age. Unattended problems rise and reverberate in various corners of the globe. They spill into the seas.
I speak here of lawlessness and insecurity; State collapse; the crisis of refugees and the internally displaced; the economic and ecological crisis; and, of course, piracy. All have an impact beyond borders. All are linked.
After all, piracy is not a water-borne disease. It is a symptom of anarchy and insecurity on the ground. Dealing with it requires an integrated strategy that addresses the fundamental issue of lawlessness in Somalia. That is why we are here ‑‑ to get beyond the headlines and write a new chapter for Somalia`s future.
Despite the obstacles we know well, there is hope in the Horn of Africa. Somalia is at a crossroads. The UN-sponsored Djibouti peace process has produced a broad-based Government. That Government is taking the hard road to peace. It is reaching out to forge national reconciliation, making difficult but necessary concessions, broadening the base of support.
We should give strong credit to the progress the new Government has made in two short months. As a result, the Somali people have the best chance in a generation to end their suffering and move toward a better and more stable future. We must push open this window of opportunity.
Somalia needs support in key areas: first, to establish the Transitional Federal Government`s authority throughout the country; second, to rebuild State institutions; third to address the humanitarian emergency; and to facilitate economic recovery.
This will not happen overnight. Today we take a vital step by helping the new leadership meet the first responsibility of any Government: keeping its people safe and secure. This requires a prudent political strategy. I urge all parties to work with the Government to solidify the consensus for reconciliation. Let us show those Somalis still outside the Djibouti process that the time for peace has come.
At the same time, the Somali people must see the clear dividends of national reconciliation reflected in their communities and in their lives. Our support ‑‑ and this Conference – is, therefore, designed first and foremost to enhance the security of Somalia. It is based on two pillars: strengthening Somalia`s security institutions and supporting AMISOM`s ability to help the country.
First and most critically, the development of Somali security institutions: with the assistance of international partners, the Government has begun the process of building the National Security Force and the Somali Police Service. This is crucial to the future of Somalia. It is also central to providing the safety and security needed for humanitarian workers to continue their lifesaving activities. The Somali Government has presented a specific and credible action plan for the next three months. We should encourage them and help them succeed.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (R) and Somalia`s President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (L) address a news conference at the end of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. International donors have pledged more than $250 million to help Somalia boost security and restore order, a senior European Union official said on the sidelines of a donors conference on Thursday.
Today I call on donors to contribute, through the United Nations Trust Fund, to Government efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Joint Security Committee. I also urge bilateral partners to step forward with support for training and development for Somali security forces. At the same time, the Government must establish solid procedures to ensure that these forces are inclusive, and that they protect civilians and respect human rights and the rule of law.
The only lasting solution for security in Somalia is one that is owned by the Somalis. This process will take time. It will be costly. But above all, it will be an investment ‑‑ a vital investment at a crucial time to nurture a fragile process and secure a long troubled part of the world.
Let me turn to the second pillar of this Conference: strengthening AMISOM. African Union troops in Somalia are serving bravely under very difficult and even dangerous conditions. They are there to help the people of Somalia develop their own security. They come from countries which have themselves suffered conflict. Many soldiers have lost their lives in service.
The United Nations provides logistical assistance. But help is also urgently needed to pay allowances for troops and police, and acquire essential equipment such as tents and armoured vehicles. We must ensure that AMISOM has what it needs to fulfil the mandate authorized by the African Union and the UN Security Council.
The support we are offering today must not, however, come at the cost of humanitarian assistance. Nearly half of the Somali population is now facing a humanitarian emergency or acute food and livelihood crisis. I, therefore, take this opportunity to remind all Member States of the critical funding shortage for the World Food Programme`s (WFP) Emergency Operation, which still requires $168 million through the end of 2009.
In the eyes of some, Somalia may have become synonymous with hopelessness and lawlessness. Yet the same might have been said not long ago about Sierra Leone or Liberia. Change can happen, but not on its own. It takes determined leadership and international partnership. By showing strong, tangible, practical support, the international community can help the new Somali Government advance from a position of strength. By acting together, we can show the people of Somalia that dialogue delivers clear returns in their daily lives.
Our strategy for Somalia is based on a new partnership among the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the donors and the Somalis themselves. Strong coordination is critical. I urge all to work together to ensure that we maximize investment, minimize gaps and avoid duplication of effort. By helping the Government gradually extend its authority, we are taking direct aim at global challenges such as piracy.
The equation is clear: more security on the ground will mean less piracy on the seas. In this connection, I wish to thank Member States who, in cooperation with the Government of Somalia, have provided and continue to provide naval escorts for ships carrying WFP humanitarian food to Somalia.
I look forward to the day when we focus on the longer-term ‑‑ creating livelihoods and rebuilding infrastructure. To get there, we here today must act. The risks of not supporting the new Government are too high and the costs of failure too enormous.
We have a unique opportunity to support leaders who have shown a commitment to building peace and rebuilding the Somali State. By opening the space for security, we open the door to a better life for Somalia`s people. Now is the time. Let us make the investment.
International conference on SomaliaBrussels, April 23, 2009
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (L) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso address a joint news conference ahead of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. Ban urged international donors on Thursday to provide more funds to help Somalia fight piracy and restore order after two decades of anarchy.
"We will not end piracy on the high seas of Somalia unless we bring development to the towns and villages"
José Manuel Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission
I am delighted to welcome you to the European Commission for this most important conference. Important for Somalia; important for the region; and important for the international community as a whole.
The eyes of the media are upon us, not least because of the piracy crisis. The recent acts of piracy – which I condemn unreservedly, on behalf of the European Commission - are a major wake up call to the international community.
But it would be wrong to limit our response simply to the piracy itself: we must remember that it is the symptom, not the cause, of a much deeper problem in Somalia. My message to you today is that we will not end piracy on the high seas of Somalia unless we bring real and sustainable development to the towns and villages of Somalia.
If you open any world newspaper in these days, you could be forgiven for believing that there is no good news at all in Somalia. I applaud the efforts of the Somali Administration to ensure that the government is truly inclusive and representative of the people of Somalia, and I admire the President for taking the government back to Mogadishu. It was great to see the inaugural session of the Parliament just last month in Mogadishu for the first time since 2002. Your Excellency, the determination of your President to take command of the process gives us hope for the future.
So following Security Council Resolution 1863, there are positive developments, and here let me also here pay tribute to the efforts of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon; to your Special Representative Ould Abdallah, and – if I may – also to Louis Michel and others in the European Union for their unstinting efforts. The European Commission is in fact the single major donor at $85 million, and the European Union as a whole contributes almost half of the total aid.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana (L) talks with Somalia`s President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (R) during a joint news conference at the end of the International Somali donors conference in Brussels April 23, 2009. International donors have pledged more than $250 million to help Somalia boost security and restore order, a senior European Union official said on the sidelines of a donors conference on Thursday.
Of course, a lot of what has happened is not positive, and it would be wrong to pretend otherwise. Piracy, violence and lawlessness continue to plague the land and of course the seas of Somalia. Those that choose this path must not succeed. They must not stand in the way of the best chance in two decades - to give Somalia a future.
The immediate objective of the conference here today is the full funding of Somalia`s security sector for the next 12 months. This conference will be primarily judged on this – and here, let me assure you, the EU in general and the European Commission in particular, will not be found lacking. We can and must fund security, development, and humanitarian needs. We must have effective Somali security forces, we must have an effective Somali police force. We will support the re-creation of the Somali state and the renovation of its institutions.
But to be very frank with you, the high level participation at this conference makes it evident that we have a deeper purpose in being here. We are here to put Somalia back on track in the longer term, and I fully support this objective. The Somali people, grossly abused, deprived of their fundamental human rights, deserve a better deal.
The presence of the Somali Government here today at senior level is a powerful signal of the transitional government`s intention to take command of this process. Across all Somalia, there must be responsible government, of the people and for the people. An end to warlordism, and an end to piracy, an end to years of profiteering by a self- appointed politico-military caste.
So let today`s conference also begin to respond, in a fundamental way, to the daunting challenges faced by the Somali authorities in bringing back stability and peace to their country. Security is the starting point, but it cannot be the end-point. Pledges made today to meet the needs in the security sector should not overlook the needs for development. The only real and viable solution is to help Somalia from within: by pooling international efforts and supporting the new Government to build security, peace and stability.
Today`s conference must lay the foundations for a brighter future for the people of Somalia. A Somalia where universal human rights are respected in law, and applied throughout the land. A land where sailors profit from fishing and legal trade, not from piracy. A land where both the highways and the high seas are safe. A Somalia which is a strong and responsible regional player in a peaceful Horn of Africa. A democratic and proud Somalia which we look forward to welcoming back as a full member of the international community.
Of course there is a long way to go before we reach these bold objectives, but the path to that destination starts here.
So thank you all for coming today. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, thank you for your tremendous work in uniting with the African Union and the League of Arab States to call this meeting today. I declare this meeting open, and invite you, Sir, to address us with your vision for the future of Somalia.
Thank you.
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