Arteh Ghalib: Secession is Not a Solution

[Meseret]

London AL-HA YAH in Arabic

June 10, 1991, pp1, 3


[Interview with Prime Minister Omar Arteh Ghalib by Yusuf Khazim in Abuja, Nigeria; date not given]



[Khazim] The 27th African summit in Abuja has passed a resolution supporting Somalia's unity. Do you believe that the resolution will prompt your government to fight for the country's unity?



[Ghalib] The African summit's resolution supporting Somalia's unity is seen as significant moral support for us, but we have promised not to use force in this connection. We will use the family approach to resolve our problems because they (the people of the North) are our brothers, and we want to help them. They suffered considerably under the previous regime and their towns were destroyed, especially Hargeysa, the north's capital. Secession, however, is not the solution. We are prepared to respond to everything they want for the sake of the country's unity.



[Khazim] Are there any current Arab efforts in that connection?



[Ghalib] Djibouti President Gouled Aptidon Hassan is undertaking some endeavors. He had called for a Somali conference on national reconciliation, and indeed such a conference recently began in Djibouti with the partici­pation of all Somali fronts.



[Khazim] Is the Somali Patriotic Movement taking part in the conference?



[Ghalib] So far we have not heard that it has agreed to attend, but the conference will continue even if it does not attend. Some prominent figures who have made significant contributions to the national struggle are attending, such as Somalia's first prime minister, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal. I am optimistic that this con­ference will produce good results.



[Khazim] Is the government in full control of Mogad­ishu? Does security now prevail there?



[Ghalib] We have prepared a force of 1,000 men to stop the assaults and anarchy. I can honestly say now that we have the situation in Mogadishu under control, but some gunfire is heard at night. That is because some arms have fallen into the hands of irresponsible people. Children 12 and 13 years old managed to secure weapons during the past period of anarchy. They fire their guns into the air at night, but, generally speaking, we are in control of the situation in the capital and other areas.



[Khazim] Forces of the United Somali Congress, under the command of General Mohamed Farah Aydeed, are still in control of some important areas of the country. Are these forces an obstacle to the country's unity?



[Ghalib] The differences within the United Somali Con­gress are ordinary differences. Internal differences occur even within parties in the advanced countries. I am confident that the dispute within the "Congress" will not impede Somalia's unity.



[Khazim] Have the Arab countries that you recently visited recognized your government? What were the results of that tour?



[Ghalib] The world these days is witnessing many swift changes and fluctuations. States now do not say: We recognize, or do not recognize, a particular a state. Recognition comes through dealings. If there is response and cooperation between two states then there is recog­nition between them.



Regarding my tour, I can say that it was useful, fruitful, and effective. Most of the countries that I visited pro­vided some aid to Somalia. Others promised aid and support. We are still waiting for that promised aid.



[Khazim] How do you assess your relations with the new Ethiopian regime? Did you meet with any representa­tives of the regime during the African summit?



[Ghalib] I met with Dawud Yohans [as transliterated], head of the Ethiopian delegation. We discussed relations between our two countries, which are based on mutual respect. I hope that the recent developments throughout the region will be a lesson to the new Ethiopian regime, for the sake of the stability and security of the entire region of East Africa.

[jalaaludin5]

[Somaliman50]

some people say cumar carte was just an opportunist, but he has shown very good diplomacy and skill in his years