Oman Participates in Arab League Emergency Session on Developments in Somalia

Muscat, 17 Jan (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman today took part in the Arab League Council's emergency session to lend backing to the Federal Republic of Somalia in addressing challenges posed to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting was held via videoconferencing at the ministerial level.

Sheikh Faisal Omar Al Marhoon, Head of the Arab Department at the Foreign Ministry, delivered the Sultanate of Oman’s speech, which affirmed Oman’s support for the sovereignty and stability of Somalia and its territorial integrity.

Oman underscored the view that any threat to the territorial integrity or unity of any of the Arab countries poses a serious threat to Arab national security.

During the emergency session, the Arab League Council issued a resolution affirming support for the security, stability, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. It voiced solidarity and full backing to Somalia. It deemed null and void the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Republic of Ethiopia and the province of Somaliland. It described the MoU as "unacceptable" and a "flagrant violation" of the principles of international law. It also affirmed that Somaliland constitutes an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The resolution supported the Republic of Somalia’s efforts to resort to the International Court of Justice to denounce the MoU, which, it stressed,is considered a blatant aggression against the sovereignty and unity of the Republic of Somalia.

---Ends/Bishara/Amas