Garowe, June 22, 2000

The authorities in Djibouti are fully aware of the Position of the Puntland State Government on Arta (Djibouti) Conference.

Now, as far as Puntland State of Somalia is concerned, the so-called “Arta Conference on Somali Peace” is dead. Puntland State refuses to send any delegates to the Djibouti show/mock conference in Arta. Puntland had withdrawn from this ill-fated and potentially disruptive process as Djibouti Government violated both the letter and the spirit of the Somali Reconciliation Process - a process clearly outlined by the UN General Secretary's Report of Aug 99, by the Pres Ismail O.Geele's Presentation to the UN General Assembly in Sept 99 and the IGAD country's mandate to Djibouti as described in the communiqué of Nov 99 after the Group's Summit in Djibouti.

Links to these documents are attached below for reader's reference and inspection.

PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA therefore advises the leadership in Djibouti to immediately refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia in general and of Puntland, in particular.

The political leadership of PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA is elected democratically to rule and speak on behalf of the community it represents and the Government of Djibouti has no business to do here. PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA as a regional authority within Somalia has been enjoying a wide range recognition by local, regional and international authorities.

(signed by)

ISMAIL H. WARSAME