Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit called on the Somali interim government and all Somali factions and tribes to continue efforts to guarantee the success of the reconciliation conference currently held since mid July 2007.

Abul-Gheit said that holding the conference sessions with the participation of many leaders and chieftains of Somali tribes and clans in spite of the current security and political challenges stresses the credibility of the Somali people to get out of the dark tunnel. He added that the coming meeting of the international communication group on Somalia scheduled to be held in Roma, Italy, in early September 2007 will provide a good opportunity to the group elements and concerned international and regional parties to assess works of the reconciliation conference and political process in Somalia.

The Foreign Minister called on all Somali parties to work together to shape an integrated and agreed-upon view for the political process during the current transitional period including all critical political issues away from the language of violence and conflict, a matter which will directly accelerate the withdrawal of foreign forces and restoration of Somalia's sovereignty and unity of lands as well as achieving stability and development and rebuilding the Somali state.