A conference co-chaired by the United Nations and Turkey will be held in Istanbul later this month to discuss ways to assist and show political solidarity with Somalia, dpa quoted UN officials and a Turkish diplomat as saying today. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the meeting scheduled for May 22, which he and the government of Turkey have convened. Somalia and several other countries will also attend, UN officials said. The UN Security Council also discussed the situation in Somalia in a meeting at UN headquarters Wednesday, and was urged by the UN special representative for the country, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, to adopt measures to support the troubled Horn of Africa nation. Turkey's UN Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, whose country is a council member, said the conference will send a "strong message of solidarity to the Somalis that they are not alone." "Solidarity here means a strong response from the international community" to assist Somalia's development, the economy, the private sector and the creation of jobs, Apakan said. "I have always stated that the peace process is based on three inter-related pillars - reconciliation, security and development," Ould-Abdullah said in an interview with UN radio before attending the council meeting. He said the three pillars should be addressed simultaneously. Somalia is upset by problems of piracy off its coast, which cast a troubled image on the country. He said one of Somalia's assets is its vibrant business community, both inside and outside the country. He said the Istanbul conference can provide an exceptional opportunity to help the business community work constructively. UN undersecretary general for political affairs, B Lynn Pascoe, who appeared at joint press conference with Ould-Abdullah and Apakan, said the UN remains engaged in assisting the Somali transitional government. UN programmes being implemented in that country include the training of more than 7,000 Somali police and political reconciliation of the various factions.
