Ambassador Fall Urges Return to Dialogue, Without Preconditions

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New York, 26 December - The UN Special Representative reported today that fighting between the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) had escalated dangerously, involving foreign forces and the use of heavy weapons and aircraft. Addressing an emergency session of the Security Council, Ambassador Fall said the conflict had expanded across a 400-kilometre front, dealing a serious blow to efforts aimed at an early resumption of peace talks. 

Ambassador Fall also warned that the fighting had also compounded an already serious humanitarian crisis, resulting in additional displacement of populations.

He noted that on 26 December, the Secretary-General had called the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the President of Kenya, asking them to encourage the Somali parties to resume peace talks without preconditions. Others in the region had issued similar appeals.

Ambassador Fall said all sides to the Somali conflict must be urged to abide by the provisions of resolution 1725 and return to dialogue, without preconditions.  “Unless a political settlement is reached through negotiations, Somalia, I am afraid, will face a period of deepening conflict and heightened instability, which would be disastrous for the long-suffering people of Somalia, and could also have serious consequences for the entire region,” he warned. For full text of briefing.....

For more information please contact: UN Political Office for Somalia(Nairobi, Kenya) Tel. +254 20 762 21 31 Please visit: www.UN-Somalia.org.