Press Release
5 September 2010

The President of Puntland Government H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) who is visiting the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa has conducted the fourth day of key meetings with officials there.

The President and a Puntland Cabinet delegation have held important meetings with officials from the Ethiopian Government, as well as representatives from the European Union based in Addis Ababa.

Puntland President meets with Dr Alemu, Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs/Addis Ababa

Ethiopian Government officials led by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Takeda Alemu met with the Puntland President with discussions focused on security matters in Somalia in general, as well as specific discussions regarding security and economic relations between the neighboring governments of Ethiopia and Puntland.

Recently, the first-ever direct flight service between Addis Ababa and the Puntland capital of Garowe was inaugurated and welcomed as strengthening bilateral relations between the two Governments.

Puntland President meets with EU officials/Addis Ababa

Similarly, the Puntland Government delegation met with officers from the European Union led by Ambassador Koen Vervaeke, who is the EU's Special Representative and Head of the European Commission delegation to the African Union.

Amb. Vervaeke was joined in the discussions by other EU officers, including officials charged with political and military matters.

The discussions were centered on improving ties and synchronizing the efforts of the Government of Puntland and the EU regarding Somalia, especially in the matters of security and development with the anticipation that the EU will begin development projects in Puntland regions, which are the most stable regions in the whole of Somalia.

Puntland President greets wounded soldiers/Addis Ababa

Separately, President Abdirahman Farole visited and greeted Puntland soldiers who are receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Addis Ababa.

The President of Puntland praised the soldiers for their bravery and prayed to God that they get back their health, while promising to honor the soldiers for their sacrifices.

The President gave special thanks to the doctors at the hospital who are helping treat Puntland soldiers wounded in battles while fighting against and defeating Al Shabaab terrorists hiding out in Galgala mountainous area. Puntland soldiers are still hunting down a few surviving Al Shabaab terrorists in that area.

Puntland President greets hospital staff/Addis Ababa

The wounded soldiers expressed their gratitude to the President for his surprise visit, while praising the conduct of the Government of Puntland in its responsible efforts to ensure that all its soldiers receive excellent treatment given that the soldiers are guarding Puntland security day and night.

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The Puntland Presidency