The Turkish government today announced "significant progress" in the ongoing negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia to resolve the territorial dispute over Ethiopian attempts to access the sea through the Somaliland region.
"Significant convergence has been reached between the parties on some basic principles and specific elements. Significant progress has been made in this regard," declared Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who mediated a meeting between the two African countries.
Fidan made these statements alongside his counterparts from Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, after the second meeting of its kind in Ankara.
The Turkish leader announced that a third round of contacts would be held, again in Ankara, on Saturday.
The head of Turkish diplomacy indicated that some concrete solutions were discussed today aimed at "eliminating existing differences and reaching an agreement on a framework acceptable to both sides", reports the Turkish media.
The Turkish government has already organized a round of talks on the conflict triggered by Ethiopia's attempt to acquire a port in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somaliland, in exchange for recognizing the independence of this breakaway region of Somalia.
"Our goal is to eliminate the current concerns and resolve the issues in a way that benefits not only Somalia and Ethiopia, but the entire region," said Fidan.
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