Intervention du Vice-premier ministre, ministre des Affaires étrangères, Jean Asselborn, à la conférence sur la Somalie

Thank you Mister President for giving me the floor.

The situation today in Somalia is very different from the situation that prevailed last time we gathered here. The transition is now over and Somalia has entered an interim period. New authorities have been chosen. Security has improved. These are positive steps that deserve to be welcomed and I wish to congratulate in particular the Federal Government for achieving this. However challenges remain and strong political will of the Federal Government and all other parties involved is – more than ever – needed in order to overcome these challenges. I am happy to see that today, in London, Somali authorities are showing their willingness and readiness to make full use of the current momentum in order to pave the way for the stabilisation of Somalia. And the very high mobilisation here today shows that the international community is ready to help.

Since the start of the conference, our attention has been mainly focused on specific issues like security, justice, police, and public finance. These are fundamental issues indeed. These are the symbols of a sovereign State and they need to be dealt with seriously. I will come back to the specific issue of security later but let me first emphasise that our attention should not be distracted from another very fundamental issue, namely state building and the development of a federal system. For stability of any country relies to a large extent on its political structures and on its state apparatus. The importance of state building cannot be overestimated, and every effort should be made to support the state building process currently underway in Somalia. The next three years will be of paramount importance in this respect, notably through the constitutional review process, the subsequent referendum and elections in 2016. This political process goes hand in hand with the reconciliation process and I truly hope that conditions will be created to promote dialogue between the Federal Government of

Somalia and regional entities, as this is key to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia. In this context, I very much welcome the establishment last week of the new UN political mission (UNSOM) who will provide good offices and support in order to create the political and strategic environment in which peace building, state building and reconciliation could proceed.

Having underscored the importance of state building and the political process, let me know turn to security. Security has improved, and I am glad to see that the new Somali authorities have developed their own security plans. I would like to announce here that Luxembourg is ready to contribute 500 000€ to support the security sector reform in Somalia. Let me underline here the importance of making sure that efforts to support the security sector in Somalia are coordinated and the importance of supporting disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programs as well. Moreover, as we all know, security on land and security off shore are linked. The new maritime strategy developed by Somalia is a further sign of Somali ownership and I want to confirm here that Luxembourg will continue to assist in the fight against piracy, by contributing two patrol aircrafts to the EU counter piracy mission off the coast of Somalia.

As I said, the situation has improved in Somalia, both politically and on the security side. But it is no time for complacency and due care should be given to protection of Human Rights, especially those of the most vulnerable. Specific attention should be given to Children in armed conflicts. I encourage the Federal Government of Somalia to confirm its commitment to implement the two action plans adopted in 2012 on recruitment, use, killing and maiming of children in armed conflicts. Specific attention should also be given to sexual violence which is clearly horrible and unbearable. I very much welcome the Task Force on Sexual Violence put in place by the Government and welcome the initiative to send a team of experts in Somalia who will make recommendations on how sexual violence could be addressed. I am confident that the Federal Government of Somalia will make every effort in order to stick to its commitment in favour of the most vulnerable.

Moreover, the humanitarian situation still remains worrying. That is why Luxembourg has decided to contribute 500 000€ to the activities of the UNHCR in the Horn of Africa.