Somali Foreign Minister visits injured Somalis at UAE hospitals

Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Hadliye Omar, has visited a number of Somalis injured in the attack that occurred recently at a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which resulted in the death of a large number of people and injured others.
Earlier this month, the Somalis injured in the attack arrived in the UAE for treatment on the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
During his visit to the injured, the Somali foreign minister was accompanied by Ambassador Mahash Saeed Al Hamili, Director of International Security Cooperation at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and Abdulkadir Sheikhey Mohammad Al Hatimi, Ambassador of Somalia to the UAE.
“I visit the United Arab Emirates with an accompanying delegation at the invitation of my brother, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister. An invitation that we highly commended within the framework of the bilateral relations binding the UAE and Somalia, to discuss ways to support and strengthen the cooperation between both sides, especially in the political, military, security fields besides reviewing the crises witnessed by our region to develop a mutual vision at both regional and international levels, and we are able to solve our problems before others do,” said Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Hadliye Omar.
“We appreciate the efforts made by the UAE to support Somalia on all security, military, humanitarian, charitable and political levels and its continuous support to the Somali people in the calamities and we offer our thanks and appreciation for the initiatives and projects implemented in this framework.
“We express thanks to the UAE people and government on the grant and the quick response of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to transfer a number of Somalis injured in the terrorist attack that occurred recently at a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which resulted in the death of a large number of people and injured others, to receive treatment at UAE’s hospitals. I reassure them during my presence in the UAE, and note that some of the injured also received treatment at the Emirati Field Hospital in Mogadishu.”
“We discussed with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed the latest developments in Somalia, areas of cooperation and bilateral coordination as well as exchanging views on a number of issues of common concern, especially the improved security in Somalia, the relative decline in maritime piracy and the crisis in neighboring Yemen, especially the recent escalation in the Yemen, which threatens the entire region, pointing to the need of the international community’s addressing these risks and avoid the Yemen entering into civil war.”
The Somali minister added, “Somalia rejects the coup led by the Houthis and supports the legitimacy of the government headed by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and calls on all parties involved in the crisis to refrain from any action detrimental to this legitimacy and the unity of Yemen.”
Minister Hadliye Omar stressed that the security of Somalia is also the security of Yemen, adding that his country is concerned with the current situation in Yemen and what may result from any encroachments on the Somali community in Yemen. He also condemned the recent attacks that targeted Sanaa and Taiz, as well as the Houthis taking control of parts of Yemen and its institutions, which, he said, undermines the process of political transition and risks its security, calling for a commitment to the GCC initiative and for the implementation of its mechanisms.
He said that Somalia is against Iran’s clear interference in Yemen’s political and military affairs and considers it an act of aggression, and an act which does not support the legitimacy of Yemen. He added that Somalia is ready to provide its support for any proposal, in any field, which President Hadi submits, whatever it may be – within Somalia’s capabilities – because Somalia stands in support of its sisterly neighbour in adversity, just as Yemen has previously done with Somalia. “We are ready to support the legitimate President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and we have made this clear during a meeting with the UAE Foreign Minister in Abu Dhabi.”
The Somali foreign minister went on to say that the GCC is “blessed by rational and good governance and are conscious of events taking place around them, as well as having the capacity and adequate resources to face all crises in the region, and on any level, allowing them to take the necessary steps to protect their countries from terrorism, extremism and piracy, and protect the important lifeblood of international communication with the outside world, namely the high seas and marine straits, from security threats due to the crisis in Somalia and Yemen. The United Arab Emirates is on the same boat as her sisters, countries of the GCC, who can not abandon their responsibilities, and we have witnessed this during the crises in Somalia, and the way they are standing today with their sisterly nation, Yemen.”
“We are assured of the GCC’s position and its initiative in resolving the situation in Yemen, and we support the efforts made by the UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal bin Omar, and ask him to consider bringing the Yemeni dialogue to the Yemen’s public interest and security, more strongly than the militias claim and stronghold of the ground.”
The minister added that in this regard, Somalia, can not but offer the support of its government and its people for the international and regional efforts, and that of international organisations in solving the crisis in Yemen.
“The Yemeni crisis and its repercussions on Yemen and the region will be strongly put on the table during the next Arab leaders summit, and Somalia will call for finding an urgent and effective solution to end the crisis in Yemen to restore security and stability in Yemen, and the region. I hope that in the upcoming Arab Summit, Yemen will be represented by its legitimate President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, which is scheduled to be held in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh on March 28th-29th, to validate the legitimacy of the Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and I call on the international community to do so as a means to halt the Houthi coup.”
Source: Emirates News Agency