BERNAMA NEWS AGENCY
NAIROBI, March 8 (Bernama) -- The European Union on Wednesday pledged to increase its funding for African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by 100 million euros up to 2013.
The funding would also strengthen AMISOM's military presence in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean waters up to 2014 to help contain the threats posed by terror and piracy groups, China's Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued from Kenya's Prime Minister's Office.
The Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga who had appealed to the EU and other international communities, said:
"There is light at the end of the long tunnel of Somalia crisis and the international community must not let the opportunity slip by again."
During a meeting with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels, Odinga said that the stabilisation of Somalia must include investment in improving livelihood in the Horn of Africa, including northern Kenya which has paid steep price for Somalia chaos.
He took the opportunity to thank European Union for its consistency in seeking a lasting solution to the instability in Somalia.
While, Rompuy praised Kenya's role in fostering peace, stability and development in the Horn of Africa.
"It is my hope that by combining our efforts we can contribute to greater security in Somalia and to restore peace and stability in this country," he said.
Rompuy thanked Kenya for sending troops to Somalia and for agreeing to integrate the troops with the other forces in the country.
He said the EU decided last week to extend its Naval Force Operation ATALANTA for two years until December 2014.
Odinga said the EU and Kenya have similar stand on environmental issues and called for collaboration in development of green energy and environmental conservation.
He also appealed to the EU to allow members of the East Africa Community to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement as a bloc and not as individual states.
The EU is also to deploy a civilian crisis management mission to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region, Rompuy disclosed.
On the upcoming elections in Kenya, Odinga assured the EU that the polls would be free, fair and transparent, adding that the country had learnt from its past mistakes.
The EU President said they were ready to send an election observer mission to Kenya should the government request for it.
-- BERNAMA
The funding would also strengthen AMISOM's military presence in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean waters up to 2014 to help contain the threats posed by terror and piracy groups, China's Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued from Kenya's Prime Minister's Office.
The Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga who had appealed to the EU and other international communities, said:
"There is light at the end of the long tunnel of Somalia crisis and the international community must not let the opportunity slip by again."
During a meeting with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels, Odinga said that the stabilisation of Somalia must include investment in improving livelihood in the Horn of Africa, including northern Kenya which has paid steep price for Somalia chaos.
He took the opportunity to thank European Union for its consistency in seeking a lasting solution to the instability in Somalia.
While, Rompuy praised Kenya's role in fostering peace, stability and development in the Horn of Africa.
"It is my hope that by combining our efforts we can contribute to greater security in Somalia and to restore peace and stability in this country," he said.
Rompuy thanked Kenya for sending troops to Somalia and for agreeing to integrate the troops with the other forces in the country.
He said the EU decided last week to extend its Naval Force Operation ATALANTA for two years until December 2014.
Odinga said the EU and Kenya have similar stand on environmental issues and called for collaboration in development of green energy and environmental conservation.
He also appealed to the EU to allow members of the East Africa Community to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement as a bloc and not as individual states.
The EU is also to deploy a civilian crisis management mission to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region, Rompuy disclosed.
On the upcoming elections in Kenya, Odinga assured the EU that the polls would be free, fair and transparent, adding that the country had learnt from its past mistakes.
The EU President said they were ready to send an election observer mission to Kenya should the government request for it.
-- BERNAMA
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