09 Jan 2008
Kerry met today in Parliament with a delegation from Somaliland, including the President and a number of Ministers. The delegation also met with Lord Malloch Brown (Minister for Africa) and Baroness Vadera (Minister for International Development), met with the All-Party Group on Somaliland, and were present in the Chamber for the Prime Minister's Questions.
At PMQs the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, who is chair of the APPG on Somaliland, had the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister about the prospects for Somaliland:
Alun Michael (Cardiff, South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op): 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?
The 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: http://www.kerrymccarthymp.org/news.aspx?i_PageID=109296
