Mogadishu, June 20, 2013.... In its weekly meeting, the Council of Ministers, chaired by His Excellency the Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, today endorsed the appointment of five new Ambassadors in support of the government's effort to strengthen diplomatic relations.

Boosting the relationship between Somalia and Italy will be Gen. Musa Hassan Abdulle, a senior Somali military servicemen and current member of the Federal Parliament. Former Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed Abdisalam Adan, is appointed to be the new Somali Ambassador to Ethiopia, whilst the current Ambassador, Said Yusuf Nur, is reappointed from Ethiopia to Tanzania.

The other new Council appointed diplomats are Ali Said Faqi, Somali Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, and Nuur Farah Hersi who is appointed to Malaysia.

“We are determined to improve the work of our Foreign Ministry and to boost the relationships we enjoy with these countries. The new Ambassadors are people who have given our country distinguished service and will represent the Somali interest with honour", said the Prime Minister after the Council meeting.

The Council also appointed a committee to lead the national holidays celebrated on June 26 and July 1st. The committee consisting of five ministers, two officials from the Office of The Prime Minister and the Mayor of Mogadishu will organize the celebrations to celebrate the Somali spirit.

The Council of Ministers reaffirmed the Government's commitment to improve security and condemned the terrorist attacks on the UN compound yesterday. His Excellency Abdullahi Elmoge Hirse, Minister of Information, Post, Telecommunication and Transport, told media after the Council meeting that the Government will adopt new counter terrorist methods to improve security.

ENDS