On the occasion of his participation at the High-Level Ministerial Partnership Forum on Somalia, in Istanbul, Turkey, on 23-24 February 2016, The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, H. E. Ambassador Smail Chergui, held bilateral talks with several leaders and Foreign Ministers of Organizations and countries participating in the Forum.

Commissioner Chergui met, among others, with the Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Stephane Maurice Dion and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, H.E. Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu.

The discussions focused on a review of the state of peace and security in Africa, strengthening partnership and the way forward to assist Somalia to achieve vision 2016.

In this regard, the Canadian Minister expressed the determination of his Government to strengthen its partnership with the African Union in the area of peace and security. On Somalia, Minister Stephane Maurice Dion informed Commissioner Chergui of the decision of his country to rejoin the international efforts aiming at supporting Somalia to achieve durable peace and stability. The Minister also highlighted the interest of Canada to contribute to the implementation of the Algiers Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

On his part, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the particular attention his country gives to the implementation of the Declaration of the 2nd Africa-Turkey Partnership Summit, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2014, and the 2015-2019 Joint Implementations Plan. He also reiterated the commitment of Turkey to do its utmost to contribute to international efforts towards peace, stability and development of Somalia.

While thanking his interlocutors for their increased interest in peace and stability in Africa and their willingness to work closely with the African Union Commission to this end, Commissioner Chergui stressed the need for predictable, sustained and adequate support to Somalia and appealed for more enhanced coordination between the different partners in order to effectively enable AMISOM defeat the terrorist threat and create conditions conducive for the successful implementation of vision 2016 in the country.

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