JEDDAH, 24 October 2003 — A UN Security Council Committee which was established to implement and monitor the arms embargo on Somalia has announced that its mission will visit to the country from Nov. 11 to 21, the UN political department said in a press release on Wednesday.
“The committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) held its 25th formal meeting to discuss the preparation of the mission to Somalia and the countries in the region in compliance with resolution 1474 (2003).
Members of the committee expressed their firm commitment to the effective implementation and monitoring of the arms embargo on Somalia, and emphasized the importance of the upcoming mission, led by the chairman of the committee, which will demonstrate the Security Council’s determination to give full effect to the arms embargo.”
The statement said the committee discussed the specific terms of reference related to the different countries to be visited and endorsed the itinerary of the mission, which will include Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Italy, Kenya and Yemen. “Members of the committee underlined the importance of compliance with the arms embargo for the success of the Somali peace and reconciliation process,” it added.
Meanwhile, UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland has expressed profound sorrow at the killing of two British aid workers in the northern region of breakaway Somaliland, adding that no new UN workers would be sent to the area until it stabilizes.
The murders of two workers for the nongovernmental organization SOS Children’s Villages, by so far unidentified gunmen, follows by two weeks the murder of an Italian hospital director in the same area.
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According to media reports, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Somaliland’s president, yesterday ordered all illegal expatriates to leave within 45 days. The order came after the killing of British aid workers in the area last Monday.
“Thousands of people from neighboring countries are currently living (in Somaliland). Foreign nationals without valid documents should leave within 45 days. We will not be a haven for criminals, and should be ready to fight wrongdoers,” Kahin told reporters. Somaliland authorities have offered $10,000 for information about the whereabouts of the culprits.
