EU seeks new era of cooperation with Somalia

BRUSSELS, May 20 (KUNA) -- The European Union seeks to start a new era of cooperation with Somalia following the recent election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as president of the Horn of Africa nation.
This message was conveyed by EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a telephone conversation with newly-elected president.
According to a statement by Borrellآ’s office released on Friday,, they exchanged information on the Somali Presidentآ’s priorities and his plans to address the emerging and underlying grievances that threaten national unity.
Borrell reiterated the EUآ’s commitment to support the country following a peaceful transition of power and the formation of a functioning Government that re-commits to and delivers on the comprehensive reform processes - political, security, economic - that Somalia signed up to already five years ago.
Constructive re-engagement with, inter alia, the international community and the region is also essential, he stressed.
Borrell also reiterated the EUآ’s commitment to support the security transition process as well as the humanitarian crisis already threatening the region. (end) nk