§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the peace talks in Somalia. [82664]
§ Mr. RammellThe UK has followed with keen interest the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference which started on 15 October in Eldoret and is chaired by Kenya under the auspices of the regional organisation IGAD.
All the faction leaders present in Eldoret signed a Declaration on Cessation of Hostilities and the Structures and Principles of the Somalia National Reconciliation Process on 27 October. This was welcomed by the European Union in a declaration on 28 October.
The UN Security Council also issued a Presidential Statement on Somalia on 21 November reiterating its strong support for the Conference. The Conference resumed its discussions on 19 November.