ERI-NEWS
Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Prepared by the Press Section of thePermanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
President Isaias Received the Credentials of Five Ambassadors
and UN Representative
President Isaias Afwerki received, on 19
December in Asmara, the credentialsof Ms. Susan Ngongi-Namondo, United
Nations Resident Coordinator; Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa of Japan;
Ambassador Michael-Christos Diammesis of the Hellenic Republic; Ambassador Agrina Mussa of the Republic ofMalawi; Ambassador Daniel Cavegn ofthe Swiss Confederation; and, Ambassador Ramiah Yogarajan of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
In the meeting with the UN Resident
Coordinator, Ms. Susan NgongiNamondo, President Isaias emphasized
the need for UN agencies in Africa toseek ways and means of resolving theunderlying problems rather than limiting
their activities to the mere mitigation ofhumanitarian challenges entailed bydrought, hunger and conflicts. In thisregard, President Isaias noted the priority and importance that should be

Vol 4. Issue 75
21 December 2017
Inside this issue:‘Eritrea Registering
Major Achievementson the Diplomatic
3Front’: Foreign
Minister Osman Saleh
Eritrean Delegation
Attended the 5th AUEU Summit

accorded to capacity building toenhance the objectives of development
and self-reliance in the continent whichis endowed with rich natural and human
Contd. on page 2resources.

3

Eritrea’s Experience inCombating Corruption

4

Eritrean Festival in
Qatar

4

Eritrean Airlines
Expands Services

4

National Policy on
Traditional Medicines
AdoptedWorld AIDS Day
Marked55

International Children’s
Day Observed
5Contact Addresses:
Tel: +251-116620052
Fax:+251-116620011
Email:eritreanaumission@gmail.com
P.o.Box: 5527
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eritrean Mission toAU& ECA@EritreaAU

Vol 4. Issue 75, 21 December 2017

Page 2Eri-News

President Isaias Received the Credentials of … Contd. from page 1
Eritrea has been pressing for an independent, transparent, and accountable investigation of this crime with
the involvement of the United Nations, President
Isaias stated. The President reaffirmed Eritrea’sunreserved readiness to cooperate in this legal
process. Eritrea does not contemplate illicit and fruitless bilateral mechanisms to address this multi-facetedissue, President Isaias stressed.

President Isaias underlined the higher dividends thataccrue from Japanese investment in Africa in his
meeting with Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa. Relief
assistance has marginal impact and what Africa
really needs from a resilient Japan that rose to prominence from the huge devastation it suffered in theSecond World is its expertise and experiences.
Noting the impressive development Japan has registered through the hard work and rich tradition of its
people in overcoming the devastation it sustained inWorld War II, President Isaias underlined that Africaneeds Japanese experience and knowledge, apartfrom humanitarian aid.

In his meeting with the Ambassador of the Swiss
Confederation, President Isaias dwelt on the scourge
of people smuggling and human trafficking. President Isaias noted that the global crime ofpeople smuggling and human trafficking, stoked byvarious parties, constitutes an abominable act ofslavery in the 21st Century. As such, it warrants
collective action.

President Isaias similarly discussed the enhancementof bilateral ties in his meetings with the Ambassadorsof the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Sri Lanka,and the Hellenic Republic.

Vol 4. Issue 75, 21 December 2017

Page 3Eri-News‘Eritrea Registering Major Achievements on the Diplomatic Front’:
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, during aninterview he conducted with national media
outlets, said that Eritrea is registering majorachievements on the diplomatic front.
The Foreign Minister indicated that attempts by
special interest groups over the past 17 years to
diplomatically isolate Eritrea have been foiled
thanks to the strong resilience of the people andGovernment of Eritrea.
Pointing out that Eritrea’s foreign policy does
not compromise national values and interest,and respects the interest of other countries,
Minister Osman said that this policy is gaining wide Government Eritrea are presently demonstrating readiacceptance and that a growing number of countries ness for constructive engagement with Eritrea in theare expressing their readiness to diplomatically wake of the nation’s perseverance and resilience.
engage with Eritrea.
Meanwhile, pursuant to the Eritrean Government’s
The Foreign Minister went on to indicate that the policy of promoting peace and stability in East Africa,
illegal and unjust sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the especially in the Horn region, Foreign Minister Osman
UN Security Council in 2009 and 2011 were underlined that Eritrea equally gives due attention tocontinuations of hostility in the guise of the border the task of fostering mutual cooperation which isconflict. He further explained that unprecedented vile bearing encouraging outcome.
campaign has been conducted to demonize Eritrea
and its leadership and such an attempt has been foiled The Minister underscored that the ultimate goal is tothrough the staunch resilience of the Eritrean people strengthen bilateral relations based on mutual respect
and interest in addition to portraying Eritrea’s true
at home and abroad.
image and that the nation will continue to exert relentMinister Osman reiterated that the main actors which less effort on the basis of strong organization andpursued a policy of hostility against the people andresilience.

Eritrean Delegation Attended the 5th AU-EU Summit
An Eritrean delegation comprising Permanent Repre- ing resilience, peace, security and governance;
sentative to the African Union and UNECA, mobilizing investment for African structural sustainAmbassador Araia Desta, and Eritrea’s Ambassador able transformation; and migration and mobility.
to the European Union, Ambassador Negasi Kasa,
On the sidelines ofattended the 5th AU-EU Summit held in Abidjan,
the summit, theIvory Coast from 26-30 November 2017.
Eritrean delegation
The summit was convened under the theme
met and held talks“Investing in Youth for Accelerated Inclusivewith the delegaGrowth and Sustainable Development. ” The Summit
tions of Romania
agreed to focus the cooperation on four strategicand Bulgaria onpriorities, namely investing in people- education, scistrengthening bilatence, technology and skills development; strengtheneral relations.

Vol 4. Issue 75, 21 December 2017

Page 4Eri-News

Eritrea’s Experience in Combating Corruption
An Eritrea Delegation led by Mr. Hagos Gebrehiwet, ons; and setting up special government bodies to
Head of Economic Affairs of the PFDJ, participated strengthen accountability.
at the World Political Parties Meeting, held inBeijing, the People’s Republic of China, from 30
November - 3 December 2017. In a Statement hedelivered at the meeting, Mr. Hagos Gebrehiwet
shared Eritrea’s experience in fighting corruption.
Mr. Hagos underscored that corruption is a malignant
disease that devours and destroys the fabric of a society; and the soul of a nation and people. He went on
to elaborate on Eritrea’s experience and the underlying conceptual and methodological approaches thatthe country has developed to combat corruption.
These include, instituting a zero tolerance policy forcorruption; rigorous sensitization campaigns toreinforce policy percepts: lean, clean, efficient andhighly paid civil service; strict regulations on
business licenses of public servants; strict financial
accountability of government ministries and instituti-Mr. Hagos indicated that what looks impressive or
perfect on paper does not always translate seamlessly
in practice. After stating that due to several externallyimposed factors the elimination of corruption has notbeen secured to the level projected, he affirmed thatthe commitment and policy orientations remains asstrong as ever.

Eritrean Festival in Qatar

Eritrean Airlines Expands Services

The Eritrean Festival in Qatar was conducted withpatriotic zeal from 23 to 27 November 2017.
Eritreans residing in Qatar, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and members of thediplomatic corps in Doha took part at the opening ofthe Festival.

As part of efforts to expand its services, Eritrean
Airlines has launched new routes to Cairo and Milan
starting from 9 December. The Head of Operations,
Mr. Gebretensae Petros stated that the Airline has
been providing regular services to Khartoum, Jeddahand Dubai. In addition, Mr. Gebretensae announced
that the Airlines will also start new flights to Juba,
South Sudan on December 22nd.

The Festival featured seminar on the objective situation in the homeland; pavilions depicting the cultural
diversity of the Eritrean people; artifacts exhibition
as well as musical, artistic and cultural performances.

Vol 4. Issue 75, 21 December 2017

Page 5Eri-News

National Policy on Traditional Medicines Adopted
The Ministry of Health adopted and made public thenational policy on traditional medicines at a meeting
conducted on 6 December at Orotta Referral
Hospital.

ners and that will help for the introduction of
integrated health service provision.
Indicating that traditional medical practice has a long
history in the country, the advisor of the Minister ofHealth, Dr. Mismai Gebrehiwet said that the lack ofpolicy of control and regulations the practice has beenin effect without understanding the negative effect andthat the policy will help in regulating the practice.

At the occasion in which Ministers, professionals andinvited guests took part, Ms. Amina Nur-Husein,
Minister of Health, commending the research
conducted on traditional medicines in a short periodof time, called for more effort for continued research
Speaking at the event, the Representative of WHO inactivities on the part of the stakeholders with the Eritrea, Dr. Josephine Namboze indicated that thenewly formed national technical committee.
contribution of traditional medication is not to beMr. Eyasu Bahta, Director of the National Medicine lightly viewed in basic health service provision andand Food Administration in the Ministry of Health, expressed that WHO will contribute its part in thesaid that the policy is expected to narrow the gap national effort as regards traditional medical practice.
between the modern and traditional medical practitio-

World AIDS Day Marked

International Children’s Day Observed

World AIDS Day was observed, on 1 December, at International Children’s Day, 8 December, wasnational level in the Port City of Massawa under the observed at national level in Mendefera under thetheme “Ensuring Overall Development of Children
theme: “Right to Health” .
Speaking at the event, in which Ministers, senior through their Participation”.
Government and PFDJ officials, heads of UN institutions in Eritrea, as well as other invited guests took
part, the Director General of Public Health in theMinistry of Health, Dr. Andeberhan Tesfatsion
indicated that owing to the coordinated effort exerted
to combat the prevalence of the disease, the numberof HIV/AIDS infections has decreased to less than
1% nationwide, and to 0.28% in that of pregnant
women, and in the last 12 years the prevalence of thedisease has decreased by 78%.

At the ceremony in which Government officials andrepresentatives of UN agencies took part, Ms. Leul
Gebreab, Minister of Labor and Human Welfare, said
that the Day is a reminder to evaluate the efforts madeto nurture children with a view to ensure the continuity of generations, and that encouraging achievements
have been registered in ensuring the health of children
and their participation in education. Minister Leulcalled up on the public to strengthen its contribution in
the efforts to eradicate harmful practices that affectCommending the endeavors being exerted by the women psychologically and physically.
people and government of Eritrea in combating HIV/ Ms. Shaya Asindua, Deputy Representative ofAIDS, and underlining the difficulty of minimizing UNICEF Eritrea, indicated that UNICEF has been
the prevalence rate of the disease to its lowest level, working for over 20 years alongside the Government
the representative of WHO in Eritrea, Dr. Josephine of Eritrea in the effort to ensure the overall developNamboze expressed her strong conviction that Eritrea ment of children. She said that Eritrea’s accession towill meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals a the Convention on the Rights of the Child attests to thecommitment of the Eritrean Government to thehead of time.
promotion and protection of the rights and wellbeingof children.

Vol 4. Issue 75, 21 December 2017