Press Release: Commissioner Piebalgs attends High-Level Conference on Somalia in Istanbul

Andris Piebalgs, the European Commissioner for Development, was in Istanbul on 22 May 2010 to attend the High-level session of the 'Political, Security and Reconstruction Conference for Somalia', co-convened by the United Nations and the Governments of Somalia and Turkey. Also attending were a number of Heads of State and Government, Foreign and Development Ministers, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

The event provided a platform for leaders to discuss the situation in Somalia, in particular security issues and stability in the region, at a time when the political situation was deteriorating. The specific issue of reconstruction was addressed with the participation of some civil society representatives and the business community members from both Somalia and the international community.