February 10, 2010
HARGEISA – A Finnish delegation from it’s embassies in East Africa has arrived in Somaliland’s capital on Monday on a fact-finding mission, Qarannews reports.
The delegation is led by Mr. Simo-Pekka Parviainen, Counselor (conflict) at the Finnish embassy in Addis Ababa, Mrs. Pia Stjernvall, First Secretary & Deputy Permanent Representative to UNEP & UN-Habitat at the Finnish embassy in Nairobi and Mr. Riku Santaharju.
Speaking to the Somaliland press upon their arrival in Hargeisa, Mr. Parviainen stated “Firstly, we would like to thank the people of Somaliland for their warm welcome. We are here at the invitation of the government to see for ourselves the current political, security, economic, social and democratic conditions in the country. We would also like to meet with a cross-section of the Somaliland community from the political, social and business sector. As well as, evaluating the progress of Finnish sponsored projects in Somaliland”.
In one of the first meetings, the Finnish delegation had met with the Secretary-General of the ruling UDUB party, Mr. Omar Farah Jama, who was in Addis Ababa recently.
The delegation are also expected to meet with various government ministers, both chambers of parliament and senior officials from the two opposition parties, Kulmiye and UCID, as well as Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC).
During their meeting with UDUB officials, the Finnish delegation confirmed that Finland has donated €2-million (Euros) worth of humanitarian aid via UNICEF for various water projects around the country.
Source: Qarannews
