PRESS RELEASES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release   
June 9, 2008
2008/473

Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman

Somalia – Agreement in Djibouti

The United States welcomes the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia.  We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Somali civil society representatives, and members of the international community, in particular the Government of Djibouti as hosts of the talks, for their contributions to this agreement.

We welcome the commitment of both parties to take concrete steps to implement this agreement, including committing to a cessation of hostilities, establishing a Joint Security Committee on security arrangements and a High Level Committee on political issues related to justice and reconciliation, and undertaking efforts to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations in Somalia.  We call on all Somali stakeholders, whether party to the agreement or not, to abide by its provisions and support its implementation. 

The United States also acknowledges the request of both parties to the United Nations Security Council to authorize and deploy an international stabilization force in Somalia.  The United States will give careful consideration to this proposal, in consultation with the Security Council.

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