Your Majesty the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud,

Your Majesties,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me profound pleasure to join you in this distinguished gathering of the 19th Summit of the Arab League. May I at the outset express my sincere gratitude to Your Majesty for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to me and my delegation since our arrival in this beautiful city of Riyadh.

Our presence here today, is significant, firstly because 3 of the 7 IGAD member states, namely Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia are also members of the Arab League.

Secondly, this event marks an important milestone in our common endeavour to foster peace, security and political dialogue between the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the Arab League.

In addition, the Eastern Africa region, and the Greater Horn of Africa, which comprises the IGAD States is vitally linked to the Arab World by geography, history and a common cultural heritage. Our shared culture has over many centuries enabled our people to interact in various areas including literature, religion, commerce and industry.
It is against this background that I wish to acknowledge the immense contribution made by the Arab states over the years in advancing socio-economic development and political stability of our region.

Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development was established to promote joint sustainable development, regional food security, coordinate growth of regional infrastructure and promote peace by preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in our sub-region.

For a number of years, the pursuit of these noble objectives was undermined by the long and protracted conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and the Great Lakes region.

This situation, coupled with problems of refugees and internally displaced persons, proliferation of small arms and international terrorism, has become a serious hindrance to our quest for peace, political stability and economic prosperity.

In order to address these challenges, the IGAD member states have spared no effort in galvanizing international attention to the conflicts in Somalia and the Sudan. These efforts have borne positive fruits and have led to the success of the peace initiatives for both Sudan and Somalia.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Arab League States for their steadfast support to peace initiatives in our region. I also commend this Summit for placing the Somalia and Sudan conflicts on the top of the agenda.

Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
Ninth January this year, marked the Second Anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLA and the Government of Sudan.

Let me first of all take this opportunity to congratulate my brother, His Excellency Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, President of the Government of National Unity of the Sudan for remaining steadfast and committed to the implementation of the Agreement. I am convinced that the few obstacles that remain in the path of the full implementation will be overcome.
As the principal regional guarantor of this Agreement, IGAD will continue to encourage both parties to strive and ensure that they remain committed to the spirit and letter of the agreement.

Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
You will recall that the primary and specific responsibility of helping Somalia realize peace and stability after years of civil war, was placed on IGAD by the African Union.

These efforts led to the signing of the Reconciliation Charter embodying the popular will of the Somali people in October, 2004, which was thereafter followed by the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government. The events of the last few months represent a significant development in our collective search for peace and stability in Somalia.

More importantly, a new momentum to restore normalcy in which peace and stability prevail has been acquired. We must seize this historical opportunity to help the Somalia Transitional Federal Authority restore peace and security which has eluded that country for many years.

In this regard, I wish to reaffirm IGAD's call for broad-based Federal Administrative institutions, as enshrined in the Transitional Charter.

The announcement by TFG to hold an all-inclusive national reconciliation conference inside Somalia from 16th April, 2007 has not only raised our hope to achieve genuine and durable political settlement, but also opens the door for all Somali leaders representing religious, business, clan and opposition groups to dialogue in a spirit of forgiveness and tolerance.

In addition, we call on all sides to show courage and commitment by setting aside all differences that could stand in the way of the reconciliation conference.

We also call on the League of Arab States and the international community at large, to urgently provide material, technical and logistical support to pave the way for deployment of additional African Union troops. I wish to thank Algeria for responding positively to our request for assistance by providing aircraft for transportation of troops to Somalia.

We also welcome the United Nations Technical Assistance Team sent to Mogadishu and the region to assess the security situation in preparation for the United Nations to takeover the AU Mission in Somalia in the next 6 months.

Even as these initiatives are being put in place, what is most urgent is the need to support the nascent Government of Somalia to enable it train its Army and Police as a first step to taking full charge of the security of their country.

I am sure that you will all appreciate that without quickly disbursing funding and robust political will, from the international community, the implementation of the road map for the deployment of the protection force, and securing genuine reconciliation, will be seriously jeopardized.
I therefore strongly urge the League of Arab States and other donors and friends of Somalia to make their contributions unconditionally and in a timely manner.

Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I once again wish to reiterate that IGAD remains committed to the stabilization of the peace processes in Sudan and Somalia.

We have offered our limited resources, rendered financial assistance and other forms of support to facilitate these processes in the past and continue to do so where we can.

We appeal to the League of Arab States and the International Community to assist our region in our endeavour to achieve peace and prosperity for Somalia and Sudan.

Thank You.