ANKARA
Somali Defense Minister Abdihakim Mohamud Fiqi on Monday said that Turkey-Somalia relations were strengthened every passing day and that such relations were a model to the whole world.
Turkey's support to Somalia continues to increase after it gained momentum in recent years.
The Somalia Core Group meeting held in Ankara last week was a new indication of Turkey's role in the restructuring of Somalia. The group's meeting was attended by Qatar, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, United States, France, Sweden, Italy, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Britain, United Nations and European Union.
Having arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara to attend the first meeting of the Somalia Core Group in 2013, Somali Defense Minister Abdihakim Mohamud Fiqi talked to the Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.
-"Turkey was with us during hard times"-
"We have signed agreements with Turkey on topics pertaining to the military. Somali troops would be trained by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)," Fiqi noted.
"Turkey will assist us to fulfill some of the needs of the Somali army. We have signed an agreement to finance the Somali army," Fiqi indicated.
"Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud's first overseas trip was to Turkey and this visit should be considered a proof of the very strong ties and brotherhood between Somalia and Turkey," Fiqi stated.
"Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family visited our country during a tough time. Turkey was always with us during hard times. Our relations are an excellent example for the international system," Fiqi said.
-"U.S. recognition an extraordinary situation"-
U.S. recognition of the Somali government after a period of 22 years caused excitement, Fiqi stressed.
U.S. recognition was an extraordinary situation, Fiqi ntoed.
The decision taken by the U.S. was a positive step for the construction of Somalia and a proof that stability is being established in Somalia, Fiqi expressed.
-Clashes with Al-Shabaab continue-
Somali security forces continue to fight against the al-Shabaab (militant group), Fiqi noted.
"This is not a problem of Somalia alone. It is an international problem," Fiqi stated.
"Somali national forces can defeat al-Shabaab but this struggle is not merely a military one. The world should support Somalia in this regard. The people of Somalia want to live in peace being ruled by an elected administration," Fiqi also said.
