United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) 

For Immediate Release 

Somali Prime Minister calls for action to draw up constitution

PRESS RELEASE 0014/2008

 Nairobi, 23 May 2008 – The Prime Minister of Somalia, Nur Hassan Hussein, has called for Somali politicians to ‘do their utmost’ to draw up a new constitution and for the United Nations to assist in the process. 

He was speaking in Baidoa on May 22 at the start of discussions on the Somali constitution-making process, which, according to the 2004 Charter, must be completed within the next six months. 

The launch was also attended by the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, the Minister of Public Works, representatives of the Independent Federal Constitutional Commission, members of the Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution, officials from the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and UN representatives.  

“Somali parliamentarians, with the support of the UN, must do their utmost to meet the Charter requirement and present a draft Constitution to the Somali Parliament within the legal timeframe,” said Prime Minister Hussein.  

The UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, said the UN was fully committed to helping the constitutional process. 

“We would like to ensure that the process promotes reconciliation, peace and stability through an inclusive and participatory process for all regions of Somalia”, he said.  

A representative from the UN Political Office for Somalia said that the constitutional process was a key element in restoring stability and peace and that it complemented the efforts of the TFG and other Somali stakeholders to promote broad-based reconciliation in the country. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information please contact: Susannah Price, Public Information Officer, UN Political Office for Somalia (Nairobi, Kenya) Tel. +254 20 762 1192 (o) or