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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The United Nations should beef up its operation inSomalia, and other countries who want to help the war-torn stateshould actually move in and set up bases there, Turkish PrimeMinister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. Erdogan's direct remarks at a international conference on Somaliain Istanbul, the second hosted in Turkey in two years, was thelatest sign of his administration's growing interest and clout inAfrica. "Without living there you cannot devise the correct policies andyou cannot help. I invite the international community to openrepresentative offices," Erdogan told the conference attended byU.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Somali interim presidentand delegations from more than 50 countries. "We have really struggled to make Somalia's voice heard, to makethose who do not see or feel what's going on in Somalia, see andfeel," he said. Most aid agencies funding projects in Somalis are actually based inneighboring Kenya or further afield. Many moved their headquarters out of the country years ago to avoidkidnappings, looting and fighting between al-Qaeda allied militantsand Somali troops backed by African forces. Somalia has been mired in turmoil since the 1991 overthrow ofdictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Erdogan made a high-profile and whirlwind visit to the Somalicapital in August last year, bringing his family and a plane fullof ministers and consultants. For all its brevity, the trip wasstill the first time a non-African leader had visited the countryin almost 20 years. While the visit was aimed at drawing attention to the famine thatswept across the Horn of Africa nation, it was also part ofAnkara's wider strategy of positioning itself as a growing regionalpower and influential voice within the Muslim world. Turkey has since opened an embassy in Mogadishu, built hospitalsand schools and started direct flights between the two countries.It has also sent hundreds of Somali students to study in Turkey. While Turkey has been largely applauded for its assistance inSomalia, critics say Ankara's headfirst policy and relativeinexperience in the region leaves it vulnerable to manipulation bydifferent political factions. PRESENCE ON THE GROUND The Turkish leader also called on the United Nations to review itsmission in Somalia and strengthen its presence there. Speaking after the conference, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,who has visited Somalia since Erdogan's trip, said his specialrepresentative had been based in Mogadishu since December and urgedothers to follow. "We agreed on the need to insure that international assistance ispredictable, transparent and coordinated. This can best be donewhen member states have a presence on the ground," Ban toldjournalists. He called for other countries to follow Turkey's example by openingembassies in Somalia. Delegates at the conference discussed ways to support Somaliaduring a transition period that will see the creation of a newconstitution, parliament and president. (Editing by Andrew Heavens ). I am an expert from ophthalmology-instrument.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Optical Lab Equipment , Digital EEG, Hospital Furnitures,and more.
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