Somaliland Presidential delegation with MP Cathy Mcarthy and Alun Michael at Westminster Parliament |
Westminster, London, 12 January 2008 (SL Times) - During Prime minister question time at the UK parliament Wednesday, Labour Member of Parliament Alun Michael had put the following question to Gordon Brown in one of Westminster's famed democratic session debate rituals 'Prime Minister's Question Time' regarding Somaliland and Rayale’s visit to Britain and the house:
You are aware, Mr. Speaker, that the President of Somaliland and members of his Cabinet are visiting Parliament at present. Will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Somaliland on the way in which it has worked over the past 18 years, very quietly, through local government elections, parliamentary elections and presidential elections? When the people of the south have no real government and are still in a state of chaos, does not that record command respect from the international community?
Gordon Brown (Prime Minister): “I agree with my right hon. Friend, who is a friend of that country. I welcome the visitors to this country, and we will do everything that we can not only to help with international development for the countries with which we are associated, but to help to build the institutions of democracy.”
Source: Somaliland Timeshttp://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/312/3.shtml
