From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:SOMALIA: United Nations emphasises political reconciliation
Date: 16 Dec 92 02:59:11 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: SOMALIA: United Nations emphasises political reconciliation


new york, dec 8 (ips) -- as u.s. marines prepare to land in
mogadishu to begin 'operation restore hope', the united nations is
trying to encourage somalis to search for a long-term political
solution to the crisis in their country.

a u.n. spokesperson confirmed monday that ismat kittani,
secretary-general boutros boutros-ghali's special representative
in somalia, was ''in touch with all factions on a regular basis''.

this meant that the two rival warlords in the east african
nation, farrah aidid and ali mahdi, who did not attend a
coordination meeting on somalia in addis ababa, were being kept
informed of u.n. efforts to forge a political understanding
between somali leaders.

jan eliasson, u.n. under-secretary-general for humanitarian
affairs who addressed the meeting dec. 5, said it was important
for the conference ''to lay the foundation for a future for
somalia beyond emergency relief''.

the conference was attended by 400 participants from donor
countries, as well as non-governmental organisations (ngos), and
u.n. relief bodies. a quarter of the participants were community,
political and ngo leaders from somalia.

two areas thought to be crucial for reconstruction was health
and agriculture. several somali doctors and specialists working in
refugee camps in neighbouring countries were being asked to return
to mogadishu to help start the medical services there.

the conference focussed on measures to intensify the united
nations' 100-day programme of accelerated relief and recovery
assistance to somalia. launched two months ago, the programme was
disrupted when rival warlords broke ceasefire agreements and
attacked u.n. food shipments.

eliasson admitted that the 100-day programme was so far only a
''partial success''. but even in its limited operation, the
programme ''may directly and indirectly have saved the lives of
perhaps as many as one million people''.

an important conclusion of the conference was that the new
targets of the 100-day programme would be ''determined at the
local level in accordance with the prevailing leadership structure
in each area''. (more/ips)

somalia: united nations emphasises political reconciliation(2-e)

somalia: united nations (2)

there has been considerable criticism from human rights
activists that the way relief supplies were delivered by some
western agencies actually contributed to the general lawlessness
in somalia. this was because some relief agencies ignored local
community leaders and made separate deals with armed groups or
''technicals'' as they are known in somalia.

among the conclusions of the conference were those relating to
the role and activities of what it called the ''humanitarian
protection forces'' or the u.s. troops under the u.n.-authorised
intervention.

without specifying the circumstances, the conference said the
humanitarian protections forces ''should remain until such time as
their mission has been accomplished''.

and hinting at a broader role for the  u.s.-led forces, the
participants ''strongly recommended'' that while they were there,
the troops should become involved in ''the rehabilitation of the
physical infrastructure'' of the country.

although the conference did not refer specifically to disarming
the irregular forces, it said the ''reduction of arms,
particularly of the 'technicals' and other heavy weaponry, was
fundamental'' in restoring law and order.

so far, the precise task of the u.s.-led force has been defined
by the u.n. security council resolution and the top leadership of
the u.s. defence department as one which will ensure ''a secure
environment'' for the delivery of relief supplies to the starving
somalis.

if the two biggest warlords cooperate with the u.s-led force,
as they have already indicated they will, a ''secure environment''
for the delivery of relief supplies may well be created for the
asking.

but the conference participants in addis ababa expect the
''humanitarian protection forces'' to do more than just that. they
want the armed gangs disarmed and demobilised, and the
humanitarian protection force to help in the reconstruction of
somali society. (end/ips/am/yjc/92)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african