GAROWE, Somalia – The President of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni said he is ready to meet with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh to discuss the disputed issues.
The UN envoy for Somalia, Catriona Laing, who visited Garowe this week, noted that she was happy to hear from Deni that he is willing to sit down with President Hassan Sheikh.
“I was encouraged to hear that the President [Deni] is continuing to be willing to engage with the President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud] and eventually more widely thinking about the kind of issues that need to be on the table to ensure Puntland’s views are represented,” said the UN official.
She added that they discussed with President Deni the relationship between him and the member governments of the Federation and that Puntland’s representation is visible.
It is the second time that the representative of the United Nations has visited Puntland since he was appointed as the representative of the UN in Somalia. She also spoke to Deni about the upcoming elections in Puntland to be held in a calm and peaceful environment.
She reiterated her call for Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo to exchange prisoners from both sides, saying that she had discussed this with Muse Bihi, Said Deni, Isimada Dhulbahante and the SSC administration.
