







^^^ Puntland financial Minister Speaks with World Leaders.
Moderator: Moderators
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100522/wl ... 0522204804ISTANBUL (AFP) – Dozens of countries pledged Saturday to help Somalia's fragile government boost its military, wrest back power from Islamist insurgents and combat the piracy plaguing the Horn of Africa nation's waters.
Expressing "full support" for President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and his transitional federal government, they said the "reestablishment, training, equipping, payment and retention of Somali security forces is vital for long-term stability."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who opened the two-day international conference in Istanbul, said Somalia's government was the only barrier to chaos in the war-ravaged nation.
Ban told delegates from 55 nations and 12 international organisations that "the only way to restore stability is to support this government in its reconciliation effort and its fight against extremism."
"If the international community acts now, I think it can make the difference," he said.