An epic written in Somalia in five months, says FM Davutoglu

LONDON (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday that an epic was written in Somalia (by Turkey) in five months. Speaking at a press conference in London following an international conference on Somalia, Minister Davutoglu said that everyone who participated in Thursday's conference in London felt a need to refer to and touch on Turkey's epic. This is a matter of pride for Turkey. We are determined to go on with this epic. We look at this matter not as a strategic interest but rather as a humanitarian obligation. Any Somali person we meet expresses gratitude for Turkey's efforts towards Somalia, Davutoglu said. British Prime Minister David Cameron had offered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to co-host the International Conference on Somalia. Prime Minister Erdogan could not attend the meeting due to health reasons, Davutoglu underlined. Whenever the issue of Somalia gets discussed, Turkey is the country that officials refer to most. During our meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, everyone expressed appreciation for Turkey's steps and efforts on Somalia, Davutoglu stressed. I have made a call on all countries participating in the London meeting to open embassies in Mogadishu, Davutoglu said. Davutoglu said that a UN Summit on Somalia would take place in Istanbul in June. Turkey had promised to renovate the airport in Mogadishu and we have fulfilled our promise. As of March 6, our national airlines will begin direct flights to Mogadishu, Davutoglu said. 13 Turkish humanitarian organizations are working in all corners of Somalia. Aside from four field hospitals, we have put into service a permanent hospital in Somalia, Davutoglu noted. Touching on the political situation in Somalia, Davutoglu said that Turkey would work to facilitate permanent peace among groups who are currently in clash with each other.