Abdullah bin Zayed meets Somali President

Dubai: H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, met the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, on the margins of the two-day third International Counter-piracy Conference, which kicked off yesterday in Dubai. During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and President Mahmoud discussed the bilateral relations, piracy phenomenon off the Somali coasts and regional and international efforts being exerted to eradicate the phenomenon as well as the latest developments in Somalia. The UAE Foreign Minister stressed keenness of the UAE on participating in the regional and international counter-piracy efforts, besides provision of training sessions and rehabilitation of Somali cadres in all fields, including the education. For his part, the Somali President thanked the UAE for hosting the conference, which addresses the Somali issue and the counter-piracy phenomenon. He also thanked the UAE for continuous support to Somalia, calling for extension of the support to include the investment and education. President Mahmoud briefed Sheikh Abdullah on the development process in his country, citing the recent employment of about 1, 000 teachers to help develop the education in Somalia. He underlined the need for focusing on the security and peace in the Horn of Africa region as well as strengthening the economic ties with the neighbouring countries. – Emirates News Agency, WAM