ANKARA (KAAB TV) – Senior diplomats from Ethiopia and Somalia held the first phase of technical talks on Tuesday to resolve the dispute arising from the agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia in Somaliland, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Turkey has been mediating between the countries of the Horn of Africa after expressing concern about the potential for conflict in the already unstable region. Tensions have been high ever since landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland last year in which it leased its coastal land to set up a naval base.
Ethiopia will be the first country to officially recognize Somaliland’s independence. Somalia said that the agreement violates its independence and territory.
In December, Somali and Ethiopian leaders met in Turkey and agreed to begin technical talks aimed at reaching a reasonable agreement that would preserve Somalia’s territorial integrity while allowing Ethiopia access to the sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey said that a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedion Timotheus and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Ali Mohamed Omar, held the first phase of technical negotiations in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
The two delegations have expressed their commitment to the letter and the spirit of Ankara’s announcement, “said the Turkish Foreign Ministry, referring to their statement in December. “The delegation has begun the practical work to turn this vision into reality.”
The next round of talks is in March, the ministry said in a statement.
Turkey has a large investment in Somalia, including its largest base abroad.
Somaliland separated from Somalia 30 years ago but neither the African Union nor the United Nations recognize it as an independent country. Somalia has Somaliland as part of its territory.
Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, is the most landlocked country in the world.