Eritrea: Land ofCan-Do People!

ERI-NEWS

National Service: A toolfor EconomicDevelopment, NationalCohesion and theDefence of Sovereignty

Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
Press Section
President Isaias Interview with Local Media on Domestic
and Regional Issues

Vol 3. Issue 48
09 February 2016

In an extensive interview that was
broadcast live on Eri-TV and Radio
Dimsti Hafash on 22 and 23 January
2016, President Isaias Afwerki elucidated Government policy on key domestic issues, overall developmental
progress achieved in the past year aswell as Government sectoral priorities
and programmes for this year.
President Isaias underlined that issuance of the new Nakfa Currency
Notes is part and parcel of the structural adjustments that must be taken
to strengthen and invigorate the economy. Issuance of the new Nakfa currency notes will not, in itself, bringabout
miraculous
economicchange. However, the Government istaking incremental and supportive
measures to bring about the desiredchanges. There are positive signs andtrends even if the time elapsed so far
is too short for comprehensive assessment, President Isaias noted.
President Isaias explained that thenew increased salary scales implemented for new graduates drafted in
the Civil Service will be fully applied
to the entire Civil Service, PFDJ andassociated bodies with appropriate
adjustments when the ongoing processing of relevant personnel data iscompleted.
In responding to the food situation inEritrea this year in view of the harvest

Inside this issue:

Eritrean Delegation Participatedat the 26th AU
Summitshortfall that has affected the whole
Horn of Africa region, President Isaiasstated that the country will not face anycrisis in spite of reduced agricultural
output due to the Government’s judicious policy and approaches of bolstering its strategic food reserves.
President Isaias also described in detail
the Government’s comprehensive policies on urban and rural housing. Noting the chronic housing problems thatstill prevail in virtually all cities andtowns, President Isaias stated that theGovernment intends to ramp up its
capabilities and work with other partners to fully address this challenge onan expeditious basis.
President Isaias also talked at length on
Government policy of zero-tolerance
to corruption as well as Government
approaches to and progress made so far
in the constitution drafting process. President Isaias further stressed
the need to strengthen the politicalwork of the PFDJ.
Full text of the interview can be accessedat:
http://www.shabait.com/eritrea-profile
Vol 3. Issue 48, 09 February 20162

Eritrea Awarded
for Achieving the 2
Target of Malaria
Control
Eritrea and EU
Conclude aCooperation
Accord3

Asmara’s Nomination Dossier to theWorld Heritage 4
List Submitted

Contact Addresses:
Tel: +251-116620052
Fax:+251-116620011Email:eritreanaumission@
gmail.com
P.o.Box: 5527
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eritrean Mission toAU& ECA@EritreaAU

Page 2Eri-News

Eritrean Delegation Participated at the 26th AU Summit
29 January, as well as the meeting of the Permanent
Representatives Committee (PRC) that took placefrom 12-22 January. The Delegation expressed
Eritrea’s views on the various issues raised at themeetings.

An Eritrean Delegation led by, Mr. Biniam Berhe,
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of theState of Eritrea to the African Union (AU) and UN
Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) took
part in the 26th AU Summit held at the Headquartersof the Union in Addis Ababa, on 30 and 31 January
2016. The Summit was held under the theme‘African Year of Human Rights with a particularfocus on Women Rights.’
The Delegation of Eritrea also attended the preparatory meetings of the Executive Council held from 27-

One of the Decisions adopted by the Summit was on
the violation of the immunities and privileges of thePermanent Representative of Eritrea to the AU andUNECA, Ambassador Araya Desta, and his spouse by
Ethiopian security personnel on 14 May 2014 at theAddis Ababa Airport. The Executive Council regretted the violations and urged the Ethiopian Government “to accord to the Permanent Mission, its Headand diplomatic staff of Eritrea the same immunities
and privileges it accords to the diplomats from other
AU Member States as well as to abide by its hostingobligations.”
The Eritrean Delegation also attended the meeting of
the AU Peace and Security Council at the Level ofHeads of State and Government, held on 29 January,
to deliberate on the fight against terrorism and thepromotion of peace in South Sudan.

Eritrea Awarded for Achieving the Target of Malaria Control
Eritrea received the 2016 African Leaders MalariaAlliance (ALMA) Award for Excellence for Achieving the Malaria MDGs Target, at a ceremony held atthe Headquarters of the AU on 30 January 2016, inthe presence of African Heads of State and Government, UN Secretary-General and AU Commission
Chairperson.
The Executive Secretary of ALMA, Ms. Joy Phumaphi, stated that Eritrea had been a model for othernations in the fight against malaria, and that Eritrea
was at the right path toward 100 percent eliminationof malaria.

Vol 3. Issue 48, 09 February 2016

Page 3Eri-NewsEritrea and EU Concluded a Cooperation Accord
The Government of Eritrea and the European Union
concluded a 200-million Euro cooperation agreement
focusing mainly on the development of renewableenergy. As per the agreement signed in Asmara on
the 28th of January 2016, out of the 200 million Euroof the European Development Fund, 175 million
Euro will be directed to energy, 20 million Euro on
capacity building and 5 million Euro for technicalassistance.
The Minister of National Development, Dr. GiorgisTeklemikael, and Mr. Christian Manahl, EU Ambassador to Eritrea, signed the accord. Present on theoccasion were Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, General Sebhat Ephrem, Minister of Energy and Mines,and Mr. Koen Doens, Director for Eastern and Southern Africa in the European External Action Service.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Giorgis noted theexisting cooperation between Eritrea and the EU indifferent sectors, and explained that the latest agreement attests to the prevailing close cooperation
between Eritrea and the European Union.

Ambassador Christian Manahl, on his part, stated thatthe Eritrean Government’s judicious utilization of resources will be decisive in strengthening the partnership.
Dr. Giorgis and Mr. Koen Doens conducted discussion focusing on the cooperation agreement and itsimplementation.

UN Envoy Conducted Working Visit to Eritrea
Ms. Kyun-wha Kaang, Assistant Secretary-Generaland Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of theUnited Nations, conducted a two-day working visit toEritrea starting on January 25.

ening engagement and cooperation between the Government of Eritrea and the UN and an exploration ofareas for future program support.

Ms. Kyun-wha met and held talks with various senior
Eritrean Government officials and representatives ofUN Agencies. Discussions covered ways of strength-Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a
meeting he held with Ms. Kyun-wha expressed Eritrean Government’s resolve towards consummating
development goals in spite of the existing challenges
such as the unjust sanctions. (continues on page 4)

Vol 3. Issue 48, 09 February 2016

Page 4Eri-News

UN Envoy Conducted Working Visit to Eritrea …(Continued from page 3)
On his part, the Minster of Information, Mr. YemaneGhebremeskel, underlined that the engagements ofUN agencies should not be confined in development
programs, but should also play their due part in helping to lift the illegal sanctions imposed on Eritrea incontravention of international law.

Ms. Kuyu-wha stopped at the health centers in Serejeka and Geshenashim, followed by a tour of Emabdorho elementary and middle schools to assess various health provisions made for students.
The UN envoy also met with Ms. Senait Mehari, Deputy of the Social and Economic Department of theNational Union of Eritrea Women, who discussed theprogress Eritrea has made in gender equality, including progress in remote areas, and disclosed the Union’s role towards this end.

In a joint meeting she held with the Ministers ofHealth, Education, Agriculture, and Labor and Human Welfare, Ms. Kyun-wha made remarks on ongoing fields of cooperation and developments towards
ensuring social services, including food security and At the end of her visit, Ms. Kyun-wha Kaang exsocial welfare.
pressed appreciation for the provision of social serMoreover, in the company of Minister of Health Ms. vices by national institutions and the priority given toAmina Nurhusein, Ms. Kyun-wha Kaang, visited remote areas of the country.
health centers in Seregeka Sub-zone. During her visit,

Asmara’s Nomination Dossier to the World Heritage List Submitted
The Nomination Dossier and the supporting documents for the candidature of the city of Asmara to theWorld Heritage List was officially submitted on 1st ofFebruary 2016 to the World Heritage Center at theUNESCO Headquarters.
Eritrea’s Ambassador to France and Permanent
Delegate to UNESCO, Ms. Hanna Simon, officiallysubmitted the Nomination Dossier titled “Asmara:Africa’s Modernist City” and its supporting documents to the Director of the World Heritage Center
Dr. Mechtild Rossier.

The Asmara Heritage Office at the Administration ofCentral Region prepared the Nomination Dossier andall the supporting documents in accordance with theOperational Guidelines for the Implementation of theWorld Heritage Convention.
The Historic Perimeter of Asmara, along with its
modernist architecture, was put in the Tentative Listof UNESCO in 2005. Asmara’s application is
expected to be approved by July 2017 as the project
already responds to several criterion.
Vol 3. Issue 48, 09 February 2016