Somalia: EU envoy, Puntland president hold talks on security, development

GAROWE, Somalia - The European Union Ambassador to Somalia, Nicolas Berlanga arrived in Garowe, the capital of Puntland on Wednesday, his first regional visit since his arrival in the country last Month, Garowe Online reports.

The EU envoy and his delegation received a warm welcome at Puntland presidential palace, where he met with President Said Abdullahi Mohamed Deni and several ministers and other government officials.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Berlanga said he was happy to arrive in Puntland and thanked Deni and his government for the cordial welcome that accorded to him and his delegation.

EU mission in Somalia said in a Twitter post that the ambassador and President Deni have discussions on various fields, including the security situation of the country and European Union development projects.

“My first visit out Mogadishu has been to Garowe because I wanted to hear the vision of President Deni has for Puntland and also the vision of commitment in consolidating the peaceful Federal Republic of Somalia,” said EU envoy.

The visit comes three months after the European Union jointly with the Government of the Puntland launched the third phase of the state Education Sector Support Programme worth 7.3 million Euro.

The government has appreciated the longstanding partnership between the EU and the Somali people, and in particular the sustained support to Puntland in the fields of education, road projects and security.

Watch the joint press confrence the Vidoe below:

GAROWE ONLINE