Norwegian delegation visits IGAD secretariat, ICPAT and CEWARN
11.09.2009 //
Last week a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, accompanied by Ambassador Kjemprud, visited the IGAD Secretariat in Djibouti, holding talks with Executive Secretary Eng. Mahboub Maalim (see picture) and director for peace and security Daniel Yifru. The talks focussed on the developments in Somalia in particular and how the Djibouti agreement could be supported, AMISOM strengthened, the objectives of the upcoming IGAD Summit on Somalia and other regional issues.
Ambassador Tom Vraalsen, heading the delegation, also visited IGADs offices in Addis Ababa, namely CEWARN (Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism) and ICPAT (IGAD Capacity Building Programme Against Terrorism).
Norway is a member of IGAD Partners Forum and has supported IGAD on development issuues, IGADs role in the peace talks on both Sudan and Somalia as well as the ICPAT-programme. The delegation discussed with the secretariat further strengthening of IGAD also in the socio-economic development of the region as well as economic integration.
The other members of the MFA-delegation was senior advisor Vibeke Trålim and advisor Elin G. Jensen.