Eritrea: Land of
Can-Do People!
(Yikealo! kikewn eyu

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National Service: A toolfor Economic
Development, NationalCohesion and theDefence of Sovereignty

Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
Press Section
Eritrea’s 24th Anniversary of Independence Celebrated

03 June 2015

Eritreans and friends of Eritrea athome and abroad colorfully celebrated
the nation’s 24th Independence Anniversary under the theme “DevelopmentThrough Resilience.” The celebrations
in Eritrea were launched on 15 May
and continued till the 25th of May withpopular participation involving musicalperformances, sporting activities, artistic and cultural shows.

The Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra
from Germany, the Malian Star Habib
Koite, a South African music group‘Sound of Diamond, and musiciansfrom Sudan also graced the celebrations.

Vol 2. Issue 34

Inside this issue:
World Leaders Sent
Messages ofCongratulations on 2
Eritrean
Independence Day
Message ofCongratulations
from theChairperson ofAUC

President Isaias Afwerki, in his address at the official ceremony held inthe Asmara Stadium on the 24th ofMay 2015, gave assessment of thesocio-economic and political situationin Eritrea, as well as the situation in
the region and the international environment. He also highlighted the major developmental programs prioritized for implementation. The full textof the speech is available at: http://shabait.com/news/local-news/19867president-isaias-afwerkis-24thindependence-anniversary-speech

Africa Day
Celebrated inAsmara
Pictures fromIndependence Day
Celebrations

23

3-4

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

Vol 2. Issue 34, 03 June 2015

Page 2Eri-News

World Leaders Sent Messages of Congratulations on Eritrean Independence Day
Several Heads of State and Government as well as
Heads of Regional and International Organizations
conveyed messages of congratulations to President
Isaias Afwerki, the People and Government of Eritrea on the occasion of the 24th Anniversary of Independence.

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The leaders commended Eritrea’s role in the maintenance of peace and security in the region, appreciated the achievements registered in improving thestandard of life of the people, and reaffirmed theirreadiness to enhance the existing bilateral relations
with Eritrea.

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Partial list of the Leaders who sent messages ofcongratulations:♦ General Peter Cosgrove, Governor-Generalof the Australian Commonwealth♦ King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain♦ President Paul Biya of Cameroon♦ President Xi Jinping of China♦ President Kolinada Grabar-Kitarovic of Croatia♦ President Raul Castro of Cuba
♦ President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt♦ President Joachim Gauck of Germany♦ President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana♦ President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece♦ President Alpha Condé of Guinea♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

President Pranab Mukherjee of India
President Hassan Rouhani of IranPresident Reuven Rivlin of Israel
President Sergio Mattarella of Italy
King Abdullah II of Jordan
President Kim Yong-nam of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia
President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi
President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
President Anibal Kavaco Silva of Portugal
President Vladimir Putin of Russia
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi
ArabiaPresident Tony Tan Keng Yam of Singapore
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa
King Felipe VI of Spain
President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka
Presidents Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey
Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom
Pope Francis of the Vatican
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairpersonof the Commission of the African Union
Mr. Patrick Gomes, Secretary General of theAfrican, Caribbean and Pacific Group ofStates
Mr. Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-Generalof the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Message of Congratulations from the Chairperson of AUC
The following is the text of the congratulatory letterthat the Chairperson of the AUC, Dr. Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma, sent to President Isaias Afwerki on
the occasion of Eritrean Independence Day.
“On the auspicious occasion of the celebration ofthe National Day of the State of Eritrea, I wish, onbehalf of the Commission of the African Union andon my behalf, to convey to your Excellency, thegovernment and people of Eritrea, our warm andfraternal congratulations.

“I would like to seize this opportunity to express
my personal appreciation for the efforts that yourGovernment is deploying towards the achievementof the Millennium Development Goals as well as
peace and prosperity for your great country.
“I remain confident that under your able leadership, Eritrea will continue to work closely with theAfrican Union for the attainment of the objectivesof our Continental Organization.”

Vol 2. Issue 34, 03 June 2015

Page 3Eri-News

Africa Day Celebrated in Asmara
Africa Day was celebrated in Asmara on 30 May
2015 in the presence of Ministers, Senior Officials,
Ambassadors and representatives of International
Organizations.

has not yet materialized. The Minister noted that external interventions and marginalization of Africa
continue to be the main drivers of conflicts in thecontinent.
The Foreign Minister stressed that in order to solve
the existing problems in the continent there should beharmony and respect among member states of theAfrican Union (AU). He also underscored the need tostrengthen the existing RECs and the organs of theAU.

In a speech he delivered at the occasion, Foreign
Minister Osman Saleh said that Africa has witnessed
immense changes and transformation which includedecolonization. He stated, however, the vision of creating a peaceful, developed and prosperous continent

A South African music group ‘Sound of Diamond,’
and Nigerian and Eritrean musicians entertained theparticipants of the event.

Independence Day Celebrations at Home and Abroad

Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra

Vol 2. Issue 34, 03 June 2015

Malian Star Habib Koite

Page 4Eri-News

Independence Day Celebrations
24 May 2015, Asmara Stadium

Vol 2. Issue 34, 03 June 2015