Annan says new administration must be viable

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said the inauguration of a new president in Somalia marked an “important milestone” in the endeavour to reestablish the country as a member of the community of nations. Annan’s remarks were made in a message conveyed to newly elected Somali President Abdulqassim Salad Hassan by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, David Stephen. Annan said the new interim authority established after more than three months of peace talks in Arta, in neighbouring Djibouti, would have to establish itself as a viable entity, bringing on board, through dialogue and negotiation, those who had so far chosen to stay out of the peace process. “Let us hope that the building of national institutions will give added momentum to the peace process, and encourage those who have remained outside it to join your common endeavour,” he said. He said the UN would do all it could to assist the people of Somalia: “We are also mindful that the peace process belongs to the Somali people, and that no outside party can replace their genuine commitment to building lasting peace and reconciliation.” Earlier this month, the UN Security Council welcomed the establishment of the new interim parliament, the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) and urged all political sides in the country to support the new peace process.