To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the situation in Somalia; whether she has received reports of refugees having been denied legitimate entry into Kenya; and what discussions she has had with (a) the transitional government, (b) the Government of Ethiopia and (c) representatives from the Union of Islamic Courts on an early cessation of violence. (114126)

We are concerned about the reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about refugees being denied entry into Kenya. UK officials have raised the matter with the Kenyan authorities. We call on all states to comply with their international obligations to refugees. We understand that the UNHCR has offered Kenya extra assistance to meet its obligations while addressing its legitimate security concerns.

Our high commissioner in Nairobi urged President Yusuf of the Somalia Transitional Federal Government to grasp the current opportunity to move the internationally agreed process in Somalia forward, as envisaged in the Somalian Transitional Federal Charter, and to be inclusive in the reconciliation process. We are committed to supporting the Transitional Federal Government in this process.

Our ambassador in Addis Ababa discussed the situation with Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia. We believe that the deployment of a regional force under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1725 will create the conditions for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops while preventing a security vacuum emerging.

UK officials met representatives of the moderate elements of the Union of Islamic Courts in 2006 but no discussions with them have been possible since the recent outbreak of violence. The earliest opportunity to resume discussions will be taken.