Hurriyet Daily News
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Istanbul Conference on Somalia, under the theme “Preparing Somalia’s Future: Goals for 2015,” opens today with the participation of heads of state and representatives from more than 50 countries, and international organizations in cooperation with the United Nations. The conference will end on June 1.
The U.N. Secretary General, the African Union Commission chairperson, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and other representatives of international and regional organizations are expected to attend the conference. Other participants are: the TFG leadership, states, regions, and representatives from all segments of Somali society, including the youth, women, the business community, elders, religious leaders and the Diaspora.
The opening speech will be delivered by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and Somalia President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.