PRESS RELEASE: Australia’s High Commissioner to Kenya H.E. Geoff Tooth conducted his first visit to Puntland State, Somalia, May 20-21, 2013.
Ambassador Tooth’s delegation, including Deputy Head of Mission Amanda Davis, were received at Garowe Airport by Puntland Minister for Finance H.E. Farah Ali Jama; Minister for Maritime Transport, Ports and Counter-Piracy H.E. Saeed Mohamed Rage; Deputy Minister for Livestock H.E. Abdiweli Hersi Nur; President’s Media Adviser Mohamed A. Mohamed; and Presidential Staff.
Ambassador Tooth toured the Garowe Prison compound, which is under construction in a project funded by donors and implemented by U.N.O.D.C. The President of Puntland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole), received Ambassador Tooth at Puntland State House in the capital, Garowe.
Discussions covered a range of topics, including foreign aid, investment, and the political and security situation in Puntland, and Somalia as a whole. Later in the evening, the President hosted a dinner in honor of the visiting Australian delegation. President Farole and Ambassador Tooth held a joint press conference at State House on May 21, with the President thanking Australia for hosting Somali immigrants and expressing his appreciation for the Australian Ambassador’s first visit to Puntland.
Ambassador Tooth thanked the Puntland Government for the warm welcome and emphasized that the Australian Government is committed to supporting assistance programs in Puntland. It marks the first high-profile visit by an Australian diplomat to Somalia.
Source: Puntland President Office
Via: http://horseedmedia.net/
