Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier convened with the European members of the International Somalia Contact Group for an informal meeting on Wednesday (3 January 2007), which was attended by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr-Store, EU Commissioner Louis Michel, the Italian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Patrizia Sentinelli and the Political Director at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, John Sawers, as well as a representative of the Council Secretariat.
At the subsequent press conference, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs described the situation in Somalia as serious. However, he said that the transitional government's assumption of power in much of Central and Southern Somalia, with massive support from Ethiopian armed forces, might offer new chances for a political solution. He emphasized that to achieve this the transitional government would have to commence comprehensive political dialogue with all political and social players in Somalia. He stressed that the process would have to be conducted on the basis of the Transitional Charter and involve both Islamic groups and other representatives of civil society as well as women in the dialogue. He said that Ethiopia had announced its intention to withdraw its troops within a fortnight and that the goal was now to prevent the emergence of a security vacuum in Somalia. He underlined the need to find creative solutions so that African peacekeeping troops could have a stabilizing impact, with the main onus being on the African Union, and added that other international partners must also be mobilized.
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed the steps taken to date by the African Union, the Arab League and the East African regional organization IGAD, which have provided intensive support for the political process and moved it forward. He stressed that Africa's ability to actively take responsibility for its own affairs was crucial to resolving the conflicts, but that other partners, such as the UN, the Arab League and neighbouring countries, would also have to do their part. He said that Europe would support Africa's efforts and that the visit of the Director for African Affairs at the Federal Foreign Office to the region had shown our interest in holding talks with the key players in the region. Steinmeier stated that Europe's commitment to Somalia would be intensified through further discussion of the situation in the PSC on 5 January and the General Affairs Council on 22 January.
Steinmeier also announced that the European Union would maintain the full extent of its humanitarian involvement and even expand it where necessary.
