Mr. Speaker, Members of the House of Commons.

I feel very privileged to be standing here. I thank you for the honour and the privilege. This great House was the seat of governance for my country, Somaliland, until the year 1960. Like all Somalilanders in that year I was given international recognition and statehood by Great Britain. I seek it again for reasons you know.

In 1960, thirty-five countries recognised Somaliland's statehood. They included Egypt, Ghana and Libya. They had good reason then to do so. They have as good a reason to do so to-day. The definition of a STATE is that it should have:

1. A permanent population;
2. A defined territory;
3. A Government;
4. A capacity to enter into relations with other states.

My country qualifies for statehood in all these respects.

Members of the House of Commons Select Committee on Development visited us in Somaliland last January. It was our great pleasure to meet and greet our long-lost brothers. The debate in Westminster Hall that followed their return to Britain was initiated, I understand, by the honourable Mr. Tony Worthington MP. Thank you Mr. Worthington.

Members may not realise that computer buffs in Somaliland were able to see and hear, through a satellite connection, the debate on their computers. The unanimous expressions of support for Somaliland is deep desire for recognition was a recurring theme of the debate. It resonated with profound gratitude among all Somalilanders wherever they were in the world. One person, a Somali General Manager of a British firm, commented: "I am speechless with admiration. Our visitors left nothing out..""

We too were pleased that the Secretary of State for Development, Mr Hilary Benn, attended the debate. In the most respectful terms, I cannot refrain, however, from inviting attention to the Secretary of state-Ys honourably held feelings of sympathy for the peoples of southern Somalia. "They have just as much of a right", he said, is to a better life as the people of Somaliland". Surely, no-one in the right mind would wish to quarrel with that sentiment. It does, however, omit to mention a caveat to this sentiment of equality.

All is NOT equal in the eyes of the UN Security Council. Take for instance, and there are many other examples, the seat in the UN General Assembly that was given unilaterally, without consultation with Somaliland, to the Mogadishu-based, ill-fated Transitional National Government. The reason for it is that Somalia has consistently baulked at every attempt by the United Nations and others to promote governing institutions for Somalia. This is not fair on Somaliland. We have waited patiently for a representative government of Somalia to be formed with whom we can engage in a dialogue. That does not mean we are lukewarm about pursuing our legal right to self-determination and international recognition. your former, and if I may say so, illustrious, Prime Minster, Margaret Thatcher, once said the lady is not for turning-".

May I reassure Members of this House that The President, Dahir Rayale and People of Somaliland are likewise 'not for turning'. We have trust in your house and in your government and we expect, as then prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, told this house shortly before our independence in 1960 - That it is Her Majesty's Government's hoppe that whatever may be the constitutional future of the Protectorate, the friendship which has been built up between its people and those of the United Kingdom for so many years will continue and indeed flourish. On our part, that friendship continued and will continue in the future, and on your part, we see the visit by the Honorable Members of Parliament to Somaliland as an honest attempt to revive that old friendship between our two nations.

Let me say something about our views towards Somalia. There are those who believe that the recognition issue of Somaliland may adversely affect or undermine the reconciliation efforts underway in Kenya. I would argue that the opposite is true. If Somaliland is recognized, our brothers in Somalia would concentrate and expend all their energies in finding a solution to their conflict since the deck of cards with regards to the Somaliland issue is no longer on the table, so to speak. In addition, we believe that a sovereign Somaliland, better than anyone else, if called upon, can play a positive role in mediating the differences among our Somali brothers and to bring about a lasting peace in Somalia. Having seen the tremendous strides Somaliland has made despite enormous odds, in the past 13 years, the world community padded Somalilanders on the back, and told us time and again that we are in the right track, and that we should continue on this course. The people of Somaliland have decided in their 2001 referendum to affirm their sovereignty thus challenging the world community as to how long to stay the course without recognition' For another 13 years or perhaps 23 years.

If East-Timor, Eritrea, Serbia, Georgia to name a few were recognized as sovereign nations, in the last 13 years, why not Somaliland. The fact of the matter is that Somaliland is more populated than approximately 63 sovereign countries including Luxemburg, the republic of Congo and Jamaica. Somaliland is also larger in area than 85 sovereign nations including Belgium, Jordan, and El-Salvador.

On a more serious not, -- For the sake of rather difficult history that my people share with Great Britain,-- let me take you back, that Sunday morning of June 26 1960 when your last governor,-- to what was then British Somaliland -V Sir Douglas Hall, departed our land. He left people with full of hope and dreams.--He left people with an immeasurable desire to run their affairs as a free society. He left our land, British Somaliland, -- only reassuring us that Great Britain will always be our best friend.

A lot has happened since. We celebrated that day throughout Somaliland with anticipation for the realization of our independence, then, - Premature and thoughtless merger into Italian Somalia without knowing what the future may hold for us, -and The cold war that brought misery to our region, not to mention a Ruthless dictator who unleashed his deadly might, to massacre his own people on the watch of all-powerful nations - including yours. All and all, resulted a failed union, and the death and devastation of our country and people.

Somaliland is at present building a society founded on peace, democracy, justice and the rule of law. Our commitment to the peace and stability of the region included unreserved respect of the unity and territorial integrity of all our neighboring states.

We expect from our neighbors a reciprocal treatment.

We stand neither for secession, nor for the revision of Africa-Ys borders. The people of Somaliland have made their choice loud and clear, independence is an inalienable right. It is iron clad no longer a hope, but a reality. There is no turning back. The only way is forward. What remains for the international community and her majesty-Ys government, is to come to grips with that reality and accept Somaliland as member of the world community of nations and member of the common wealth of nations. No pressure on the part of the international community can alter these basic facts or bend the will of the people. We want the country that ruled us for 76 years to renew their trust in us, and take the lead and reconfirm Somaliland-Ys sovereignty and independence.

Ladies and gentlemen, Somaliland should be granted a full diplomatic recognition, and should not be punished for the success that it has achieved by its own efforts. Fundamentals of democratic society base upon freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, multiparty democracy, different layers of fair and free elections are some of our prime achievements. It is ironic that these achievements are alien to many of the countries whom we are asking to decide the destiny of our nation. This is the stark truth of Somaliland, a country that has built all constitutional institutions, has fulfilled all democratic legalities to the letter and instilled the culture of peace and stability.

Although our democracy is only 13 years old we have assigned the two most important ministries to women including the foreign ministry portfolio, and we plan to add more portfolios to women in the future. We also plan to assign significant candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections so that the voice of women is abundantly heard, though we know that women-Ys empowerment is a lot more than increasing their numbers in parliament. Realizing that, we are determined to continue to change the mindset that has slowed progress towards genuine empowerment of women in political decision-making and in all spheres of life.

Honorable members of parliament, Ladies and gentlemen,

In the wake of September 11th, many citizens of this city and in this great nation saw the world as radically altered. Understandably, there is alarm here in London and elsewhere and around the globe about the issue of failed states in these troubling times, and a desire to limit any dangers they might pose to our collective security. Trust me, we know all about failed states. But we in Somaliland do not believe ours is a failed one, but a capable, responsible and democratic state. However, we share the same fears with you about failed states, and the threat they could pose to us all. In a global village like ours, the problems, miseries, and frustrations of others can easily spillover on other nations.

Likewise, the well-being and the success of other nations can equally have a profound positive effect on all of us. The reality on the ground today is, in our global village, what is good for one country is good for the other. The surest and the most effective way of fighting terrorism is not by trying to cure the symptom of the disease but the root cause of the malady by eradicating poverty, which manifests itself in misery and frustration. It is easy to assume that a neglected poverty-ridden society will be a congenial breeding ground for terrorists. The rich and the poor countries must have a common agreement to fight and cooperate in the interest of all mankind to eliminate poverty at the global level. Fighting human misery and degradation of human life must be a common concern for everybody, if we aspire a more peaceful life in this fast shrinking world of ours.

Our challenge is then to create a state in which peace and security are guaranteed over a sustained period, because we believe, there can be no long-term economic development without peace.

My Lords, Distinguished Members of House of Commons, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is cruel and uncommon for this great institution to ignore and not grant a political recognition to a former British protectorate that chose peace and self-determination after all that significant past. And I-Yll tell you why it is cruel and inhumane. For lack of political recognition;

(a) My people cannot trade and travel in the proper means of business for lack of internationally recognized documents. (b) We cannot become a member and participate the international trade organizations
(c) We cannot rejuvenate our economy and attract international investments.
(d) We cannot organize internationally credible banking institutions
(e) We cannot strongly assist the war on terror since we do not share data with the free world.
(f) Our children cannot take advantage of educational scholarships.
(g) We are virtually in prison for reasons unknown to us ladies and gentlemen

The pervasive poverty, that afflicts our society; -- the despair of millions who are without jobs and without hope; - because of poverty; the darkness that engulfs millions because they are both illiterate and innumerate; the many who will be victims of violent crimes -- because hunger, want and brutality have warped and condemned many in our region.

I come out of a country with whose travails and suffering -- for lack of international relationship, you are very familiar. You will therefore understand it easily why I stand up to say that for such a powerful country, as yours, -- democracy, peace and prosperity in our region are as much in your national interest -- as ours.

I'll say this to you, ladies and gentlemen, for this state of our affairs to change; we wait no United Nations bureaucratic system or African Union or Pan Arab organization to take the lead. Because they will not, and they never did. It demands of you enlightened and great leaders of Great Britain, that you should assist us, and therefore yourselves as well, to rediscover for ourselves, -- as a nation, the practice of democracy we envisioned and established for our people and strengthen the institutional foundations we already initiated.

This new century will surely demand that democracy must also mean a life of plenty. -- As the images of life lived anywhere on our globe become available to all, in television and the internet, so will the contrast between the rich and the poor within and across frontiers and within and across the continents, become a motive force impelling the deprived to demand a better life from the powers that be, wherever their location. And it is a great opportunity for warlord, tyrants and evil dictators to rise -- and also heaven for terror networks and religious fanatics to recruit in our part of the world.

To sum up what we have achieved so far in the last few years, I-Yll use the very words of your great statesman Winston Churchill-" -- who once said, and I quote; "We must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones the great principles of freedom and the rights of man which are the joint inheritance of the English-speaking world and which through Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and the English common law, find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence.

All this means that the people of any country -- have the right, -- and should have the power by constitutional action, by free unfettered elections, with secret ballot, -- to choose or change the character or form of government -- under which they dwell; Here is the message of the British and American peoples send to mankind. Let us preach what we practice - let us practice - what we preach and he continued.

Ladies and gentleman,

Our economy and livelihood now depends entirely on the livestock sector, a sector that is subject to extreme fluctuations depending on the domestic weather conditions and external market situations, two vital variables not under our control. We are working hard to diversify the economy, by exploiting our vast untapped resources, like oil and gas, precious stones and the vast sea resources over the coming years. We have already taken steps in that direction, but our efforts are being hamstrung by the refusal of the international community to invest in our country or deal with us bilaterally.

Ladies and gentlemen, therefore, I do firmly believe that the people of this country, who have done so much to write the history of the world, have the vision, the wisdom and the daring to strive and should not let the suffering of our people go on, -- so that what is good shines over the cities and the villages of my country because of your actions.

Thank you.