Yes, so-called Palestine is recognized by lots of countries NOW, and the others too to some extent, but they had to start somewhere too. So did all the others. They had sponsors -- South Ossetia recognized by Russia, so Russia's allies follow, etc. (Taiwan is a good example of this process in reverse.) Somaliland does not have a sponsor yet, but is trying hard and cannily to get one -- once you have one, others follow, and that makes it easier for still more. Good luck to them! Naturally the path to recognition will not be identical for all countries, or "countries". But the distinction is comparative only, I think, not categorical. Apples, but not oranges -- just another variety of apple.
David Phillips
San Francisco
-----Original Message-----
From: International boundaries discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of aletheia kallos
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 9:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: somaliland stature grows in africa europe & america as constitutional crisis emerges
thanxx peter & david
& yes palau i do see
perhaps
as a rare analogue or even a dwarf twin of somaliland
but the socalled palestine or palestines
is clearly a case of apples & oranges to somaliland
in being unequivocally recognized by scores of countries
& kosovo & sahrawi too btw & perhaps taiwan are just more palestine twins or slight variations imo in that they too are very well recognized albeit not quite so broadly
indeed even abkhazia & south ossetia
ditto
recognized for sure
even if still less widely so
somaliland tho
is recognized by no country but is fully engaged with many
in your face but zero
indeed less than dirt
finland for example even overtly treats somaliland like less than dirt http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Somaliland+wants+to+send+deportee+back+to+Finland/1135244279481
& this is not some remote outpost of oceania
this is downtown crossroads of the horn
& to reiterate perhaps
the novelty of it is not less striking than that of the new brazil colombia elastic frontier nor than the chinese cow tongue eez nor even than ethiopia & company just blowing off the eebc at badme i might tack on as an afterthought tho noticed earlier
but there you have perhaps a full quartet of weirdoes
& all alike in being really outstanding if not epoch making anomalies in the state of sovereignty
& if they really are something rather than nothing
& really do indicate some slippage or directional drift
then it may be worth asking where they & we are headed with all this
good time for a huddle
--- On Sat, 3/28/09, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [INT-BOUNDARIES] somaliland stature grows in africa
> europe & america as constitutional crisis emerges
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 2:28 AM
> I agree with what Peter Prows
> says. In addition to Palau, there is the
> example of so-called Palestine, which while not in any
> sense an
> independent or recognized state is very active
> internationally, attends
> meetings and conferences, and is in theory supposed to
> negotiate with
> the undoubted state of Israel re borders and other
> incidents of
> sovereignty.
>
> Thanks Aletheia for the Somaliland update. It seems
> as if they are
> playing it very skillfully.
>
> David Phillips
> San Francisco
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: International boundaries discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Peter Prows
> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 8:00 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: somaliland stature grows in africa europe
> & america as
> constitutional crisis emerges
>
>
> Dear Aletheia,
>
> Very interesting thoughts and articles. I too hope for a webcast of
> the proceedings at Durham. It is the rare and special
> conference that
> has made news before it has begun.
>
> As for your question, it is not at all unusual for
> non-states to
> negotiate and position themselves for recognition and
> eventual
> sovereignty. Whether this is called "diplomacy" or just
> politics is
> probably not so important. While it was still under
> trusteeship, for
> example, Palau negotiated fishing agreements with Japan in
> the late
> 1970s to show that it had the will and ability (and
> tenacity) to do so
> (even if, in a strict sense, it lacked legal capacity
> and
> international personality to do so). It also
> negotiated a Compact of
> Free Association with the United States before it got its
> independence
> (indeed, as a condition of its independence). Sometimes, it
> would
> seem, the act of engaging in diplomacy begets
> international
> regognition. In fact, that may be the only way recognition
> will ever
> happen.
>
> Cheers and safe travels to all.
>
> Peter
>
> On Mar 27, 2009, at 7:39, Aletheia Kallos <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > excuse me for getting so excited but
> > the following links report recently growing interstate
> relations
> > between somaliland on one hand &
> > djibouti
> > the united kingdom
> > ethiopia
> > france
> > sweden
> > the european union
> > & the united states
> >
> http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Somalil
> an
> d_leader_vows_to_step_down_only_to_elected_president.shtml
> > http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article30513
> >
> http://somalilandpress.com/3306/somaliland-invited-to-french-horn-of-a
> fr
> ica-investment-forum-in-djibouti
> > http://gargaar.blogspot.com/2009/03/somaliland-where-is-president.ht
> > ml
> >
> > also
> > an indirect report at
> > http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/92899
> > of agreements & cooperation & or official
> contacts of somaliland
> > likewise with
> > ghana
> > south africa
> > rwanda
> > kenya
> > belgium
> > ireland
> > & norway
> >
> > very curious all this
> >
> > how can international diplomacy & cooperation
> exist without
> > sovereign recognition
> >
> > are they so plastic
> >
> > well
> > but perhaps it is not such a biggie really
> > in our bold new era
> > of elastic frontiers
> > & sillyputty eezs
> >
> >
> > a more curious question might be
> > how will the somaliland minister of foreign affairs
> hold forth in
> > durham at the sovereignty sos conference
> > in the thick of what is now foreseeably a blooming
> constitutional
> > crisis
> > of his nonsovereign noncountry state
> > which incidentally no longer even really borders but
> now only abuts
> > raggedly or blends imperceptibly with the sovereign
> nonstate country
> > of somalia
> >
> > the timing couldnt have been planned better to make
> the most of this
> > hour in the global limelight
> >
> > i hope there will be some sort of webfeed on his
> presentation among
> > others on the program that promise to be fairly earth
> shaking
> >
> > also this today at
> > http://somalilandpress.com/3738/somaliland-minister-of-foreign-affairs
> > -to-partake-in-international-'state-of-sovereign
> > ty"-conference-in-uk
> >
> > Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs to partake in
> international '
> > State of Sovereignty" conference in UK
> >
> > Hargeisa, March 26 2009 (somalilandpress ) - The
> Somaliland Foreign
> > minister, Mr Abdillahi Mohamed Duale, flew out of
> Hargeysa Egal
> > International airport on Wednesday morning to take
> part in a three-
> > day international conference on the "State of
> Sovereignty"
> > organized by the International Boundaries Research
> Unit (IBRU) of Du
> > rham University. The conference is celebrating the
> 20th anniversary
> > of boundary studies at IBRU, which is taking place
> from 1-3 April 20
> > 09 in Durham, UK.
> >
> > Speaking to the media in the VIP lounge of Egal
> International
> > airport, the foreign minister told local reporters
> that Somaliland
> > has been invited to address the three-day celebration
> anniversary of
> > the "State of Sovereignty" conference which is being
> held at the
> > historical city of Durham in the UK.
> >
> > "We are extremely pleased and honoured to be attending
> the 20th anni
> > versary of IBRU's 'State of Sovereignty' conference
> and I will
> > be presenting a paper outlining the historical basis
> of Somaliland's
> > 1991 declaration of its independence and
> sovereignty. As well as,
> > discussing Somaliland's road to peace, reconciliation
> and building t
> > he country's democratic aspirations to becoming a
> multi-party societ
> > y," said Somaliland's foreign minister, Mr Abdillahi M
> Duale.
> >
> > The minister was asked by local reporters, "What he
> will achieve by
> > attending to this conference in Durham, and if it was
> necessary to w
> > aste, tens and thousands of dollars, on a conference,
> when the count
> > ry is cash strapped and suffering from a harsh
> drought?"
> >
> > The minister replied, "Firstly, the conference
> organisers are paying
> > for all the expenses right up to our return back
> to Hargeysa. And
> > secondly, Over 30 governments, 11 foreign of affairs'
> departments an
> > d their agencies, including the US State Department,
> UK Foreign Offi
> > ce and 92 world acclaimed academic institutions and
> international or
> > ganizations, the likes of UN, EU and the European
> court of Justice w
> > ill all be participating in the conference.
> >
> > On the contrary, this is indeed a window of
> opportunity for
> > Somaliland to get its message across to so many
> countries and
> > international organisations in one single
> presentation. Somaliland
> > will make new friends who will gladly support our
> cause. Surely this
> > is what we have been working for," said Duale.
> >
> > Travelling with the foreign minister is the Executive
> Secretary of
> > Somaliland's ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf M
> Ahmed.
> >
> > &
> > about the constitutional crisis
> > this also today at
> > http://www.pr-inside.com/democracy-in-somaliland-hijacked-by-r1143240.
> > htm
> >
> > De-facto Somaliland set to become de-facto single
> party state
> > Democracy in Somaliland hijacked by ruling party
> >
> > Officials from the House of Elders and the House of
> Representatives
> > of Somaliland are in discussion to extend the term of
> president
> > Rayaale for the third time running within 13 months.
> >
> > The news comes amid yet another failure for an
> ambitious and suspect
> > high tech computerised polling system introduced by
> Election
> > Commissioners who all by now have resigned leaving the
> commission
> > weak and fractured to carry out its objectives and
> duties. The
> > Commission is unlikely to have a capacity to execute
> such technical
> > requirements for the foreseeable future rendering the
> country
> > ungovernable by democratic means.
> >
> > Military police were requested by the concerned ruling
> UDUB party
> > chaired by president Rayaale for "security" purpose
> although
> > officials from the House of Elders protested at the
> presence of such
> > forces accusing the president of coercion and
> "show of force"
> > against vulnerable elders. The UDUB party has been in
> power since th
> > e creation of an apparent quasi multi-party system in
> 1998 founded b
> > y the then transitional president of Somaliland Egal.
> >
> > Major opposition party Kulmiye who sought to boycott
> any
> > entertainment of extending the presidential term yet
> again without
> > proper due process and scrutiny of the Election
> commissioners were
> > again sidelined. Kulmiye proposed the country to be
> put under
> > transitional status possibly led by current
> non-partisan activist
> > Edna Aden until elections are held. Past extensions
> were passed by
> > the House of Elders without proper consultations with
> opposition
> > parties preventing them from exercising their legal
> right.
> >
> > The resultant discussion is expected to extend
> Rayaale's term until
> > early 2010. Both the president and his vice president
> will automatic
> > ally extend their terms under such circumstances.
> Critics say such u
> > nelected members of the House of elders make it easier
> for the rulin
> > g party to interfere with legislation procedures and
> allow the rulin
> > g party to accumulate wealth before their term. The
> majority members
> > of the House of Elders were hand picked by the
> ruling party and pre
> > sident since elections in 1998.
> >
> > Morale in the main cities is low due to poverty of
> ideas from a
> > ruling party whose only accomplishments has been the
> cutting of
> > ribbons during launches of private enterprises
> belonging to overseas
> > Somaliland natives or charity groups. Students in
> Erigavo city
> > angrily protested at the Minister of education during
> a visit to a
> > construction site for two schools provided by EU and
> USAID for local
> > people. The students cited the absence of local
> education
> > authorities and proper facilities for their
> examinations. Schools in
> > Somaliland are issued with books supplied by UNICEF
> Somalia forcing
> > them to abandon Somaliland's political reality as all
> reference of S
> > omaliland's existence are removed by UNICEF unlike its
> accommodation
> > to Palestinian concerns.
> >
> > President Rayaale was a former member of the Marxist
> party of former
> > Somali Democratic Republic known as "Kacaanka" led by
> the then
> > dictator Mohamed S Barre. Vice president Yasin holds
> Canadian citize
> > nship and moved from Toronto to envisage a career in
> the UDUB party.
> > Somaliland Police forces who often take direct
> orders from the pres
> > ident usually fire live rounds at protestors during
> rallies despite
> > trainings provided for them by United Nations
> Development Programmes
> > for Somalia to prevent such malpractices and
> crimes.
> >
> > also
> > for anyone who cant get enough of this stuff
> > http://gargaar.blogspot.com/2009/03/somaliland-last-ditch-of-riyaale.h
> > tml
> > & especially
> >
> http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7
> 58
> 5:somali-marine-a-coastal-monitor&catid=89:reports
> >
> > best wishes to all
> > & have a wonderful time there next week
> >
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _____
> This e-mail message is for the sole use of the intended
> recipient(s)
> and may contain confidential and privileged information.
> Any unauthorized
> review, use, disclosure or distribution is
> prohibited. If you are not the
> intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply
> e-mail and destroy
> all copies of the original message. Thank you. Farella
> Braun + Martel LLP
>
|
