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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SOMALIA: Talks "in danger of collapse"

NAIROBI, 6 March 2003 (IRIN) - The Somali peace talks currently underway in Kenya are in danger of collapsing unless strong leadership is provided by the mediators, the Somalis and the international community, the Brussels-based think tank, International Crisis Group (ICG), warned this week.

"There is a serious need to revive the flagging support and interest of the Somali public for the peace process," it said in a report.

The report said that participants in the talks should have the ability to implement on the ground the agreements they sign. It said faction leaders and civil society representatives at the talks were "self-appointed", with a real risk that the meeting would produce another "government in exile".

"Ultimately, what matters most is not who 'deserves' to sit at the table, but rather who possesses authority and legitimacy in sufficient measure to implement an agreement and deliver a lasting peace," the report said.

It made a number of recommendations including sending an international fact-finding mission to assess the Somaliland issue. It also called on donor nations to "enhance diplomatic support for the process, in order to demonstrate commitment to its success and to assist the Chairman in managing regional differences".

It also urged the UN Political Office for Somalia to "provide greater leadership by calling attention to individuals, groups and governments who obstruct the peace process or violate the arms embargo, and develop and recommend to the Security Council a pragmatic regime of targeted sanctions to be applied against offenders".

Full report available at:- http://www.crisisweb.org

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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