DUYGU GÜVENÇ
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has asked the Turkish prime minister to consider
Turkey's participation in a U.N. force in
Somalia if the deployment of an African Union peace force fails in the troubled country.
In an interview with the Turkish Daily News during an official visit by the Ethiopian prime minister early this week, senior Turkish government officials said Turkey is not eager to send troops to Somalia. The Turkish preference is for the deployment of an African Union peace force. However, if the African Union fails to deploy peace force and in case the U.N. peacekeeping force for Somalia is established, Turkey might be obliged to consider sending troops, because Turkey and Ethiopia are Muslim countries, said the same sources.
In talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday, Zenawi discussed the withdrawal of Ethiopian soldiers from Somalia that was announced two weeks ago, a senior Turkish diplomat said. The same source added that Zenawi raised concerns about the future in Somalia after the withdrawal of Ethiopian soldiers. Erdoğan emphasized the need to protect civilians during the withdrawal and also to withdraw the soldiers as soon as possible, the source said.
In response, during March all the Ethiopian soldiers will be withdrawn but Zenawi expressed doubts about the urgent deployment of the African Union troops and is looking for the grounds for a U.N. mandated force in Somalia, which would include Turkey and some other Islamic countries.
While the two prime ministers continued their talks about the future of Somalia during dinner, Zenawi asked Turkey to extend financial assistance and further investments in his country. The Islamic Courts, which were in power in Ethiopia, may threaten the stability in the region and a broad coalition government can prevent the possible conflict, Erdoğan told Zenawi. The foreign ministry sources added that if a broad-based government of reconciliation is not established, war in the region will be inevitable.
U.S., European, African and Arab diplomats on Friday emphasized the need for all-inclusive talks on the future of Somalia to ensure the nation's stability. Such talks should include prominent warlords, leaders of Somalia's Islamic courts and leaders of the breakaway northern Somalia region of Somaliland.
Source: Turkish Daily News, Feb 10, 2007