Somalia: Puntland President Welcomes TFG Prime Minister in Garowe

The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government H.E. Abdirahman MohamedMohamud (Farole) has welcomed the Prime Minister of the Transitional FederalGovernment (TFG) of Somalia H.E. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali at the airport in Garowe,the capital city of Puntland State in northern Somalia.

The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Health Minister Dr. Abdiaziz SheikhYusuf, Education Minister Mr. Ahmed Aideed, Public Works Deputy Minister Mr.Hared Hassan Ali, Education Deputy Minister Mr. Abdulkadir Mohamud Barre,State Minister for Defense Mr. Mohamud Ali Nur, State Minister for Public WorksMr. Abdikafi Moallim Hassan, TFG parliamentarian Abdullahi Abokor Jama, SomaliAmbassador to Switzerland Amb. Yusuf Mohamud Bari-bari, and Prime Minister’sChief of Staff Mr. Burhan Warsame Abdi and Chief of Protocol Mr. Abdi Jama Muse.

The Prime Minister’s delegation flew from Aden Adde International Airportin Mogadishu and arrived at Garowe International Airport at 1:40pm Friday.The Puntland Government’s senior leadership, including President Farole, VicePresident Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, and members of the Cabinet, were all presentat Garowe International Airport to welcome the Prime Minister’s delegation, alongwith parliamentarians, traditional elders, and civil society.

The delegation was then transported to the State House, where the PuntlandPresident and the TFG Prime Minister briefly addressed Somali media.

It is the first trip to Puntland by Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali since hisappointment on 23 June 2011.

The Prime Minister’s delegation is expected tohold key discussions with Puntland Government officials in Garowe over a rangeof topics, including implementation of TFG-Puntland agreements since 2009,the upcoming Somali National Consultation Conference, political and securitycooperation, and sharing of international aid and donations.
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