Italy against inviting Somali rebels to Rome

The Italian Government has disapproved inviting Somali rebels to the of the International Contact group that will take place in Rome on 9 to 10 June.

“Accordingly, any information being mistakenly circulated on some websites about invitations having being conveyed for such a meeting to members of the opposition to the TFG by the Italian Government are completely false. Furthermore, invitations to the meeting are sent by the ICG Chairman and not by the Government of Italy� said a press release from the Italian embassy in Nairobi.

The press release from the embassy said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be hosting the next meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia in Rome on 9 and 10 June.

The Contact Group is the principal coordination and consultation forum for the states and international organizations most closely engaged in fostering the peace process in Somalia. It is chaired by Ould Abdallah, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Somalia.

The meeting will be opened by Minister Franco Frattini also taking part will be the Somali Foreign Minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar.

The meeting will examine the most recent developments in Somalia in political and security terms, including measures to combat piracy, and in humanitarian and economic terms also.