Foreign ministry official says deputy prime minister's comments 'taken out of context'
Thursday, November 28, 2013
NEW SOMALIA DEAL. (L-R) European Council Pres Jose Manuel Barroso, European Union foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somali Deputy Prime Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam during the International conference on Somalia held in Brussels, Belgium, September 16, 2013. Photo (C) European Union
A Somali official in the foreign ministry has categorically denied talk of a diplomatic spat in Brussels between Fawzia Yusuf Adam, Somalia's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister, and the EU commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs.
Adam said that Somalia had been pledged €1.8bn in a conference in September but that "so far, we have received nothing".
But the official said that her comments had been taken "completely out of context".
"Contrary to a report in the International Business Times, Somalia is extremely grateful for the extensive support it receives from the EU," Adam said.
"Relations between Somalia and the EU are extremely strong and we engage with each other as partners on the widest possible range of issues, from humanitarian assistance and technical support to combating violent extremism and supporting Amisom [the African Union Mission in Somalia]."
The European Commission provides development aid in Somalia under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). The total allocation for Somalia for the 2008-13 period is €521m.
"The EU is Somalia's most important donor and we thank our partners for everything they are doing to help us recover from more than two decades of fighting," Adam said.
"We are confident that, over time, the EU will channel direct support to the Somali government and we continue to engage our partners on ways in which this can be achieved."