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

ERINEWSkemey zeykewn!)

Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AUand UNECAPress Section

President Isaias Afwerki’s Interview WithLocal MediaIn an interview with local media
conducted on 9 February 2014 in thePort City of Massawa, President Isaias
gave extensive briefings on national
development programmes, and thecurrent situation in Eritrea and theHorn of Africa Region.

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

Volume 1, Issue 4
15 February 2014On Infrastructure Projects
President Isaias said that apart from Inside this issue:
extensive construction of asphalt and Foreign Minisgravel roads that will be implemented thister Delivers
year in the different Regions, new electric
President
power supply projects will be built in Isaias’ Message 2
various parts of the country. All
to President
infrastructure projects are designed on theYoweri
Some highlights from the interview:
basis of sustainability, connectivity
Museveni
regional integration and complementarity.
On Food security
Eastern Africa
In this respect, he cited the cross-border
Region Held aelectricity and road connectivity projects
FarewellPresident Isaias Afwerki said that that are implemented and are being under2
ReceptionforEritrea’s food security program is guided taken between Eritrea and Sudan.
Ambassadorand measured by the amount of basic
Girma Asmerom
On the Situation infood items in reserve
South Sudanand stock. In this conTurkey andnection, he pointed out
Identifying corruption
EritreaSignthat adequate reserve ofand lack of adequate
Bilateral
Civil
basic food items for2
governmental strucAviation2014 is secured, andtures as the main
Agreement
irrigation projects andcauses of the current
farming activities areproblem in South Eritrean Athletes
being expanded and intensified on a larSudan, President Isaias called on all inter- Win Three Races 2
ger scale.
in Spainnal and external parties to refrain fromportraying the ongoing conflict as ethnic Ancient Temple
On Housing Construction
based. He called on all local, regional andand Artifacts
international stakeholders to express and3
UncoveredinThe President elucidated that a comprestrengthen their support to the legitimate
Adulishensive national residential housing and internationally recognized central
program that benefits the general public Government of South Sudan. The PresiEritrea’s
has been designed and is ready for impledent underlined that additional bloodshed National Reportmentation. He underscored that the pri3
Under UPR
and humanitarian disaster must be
mary beneficiaries of the housing projects
Adoptedavoided.
will be those selfless citizens who havededicated and are dedicating their timeand energy for the development and In addition, President Isaias gave detailed
Contact Addresses:
protection of the nation. To this end, briefings regarding the expansion of basic
Tel: +251-116620052
construction companies have been services such as health, restructuring of
Fax:+251-116620011
regional
administrativeorgans,strengthconsolidated and necessary machinery
Email:eritreanaumission@eningtheroleof
thePeople’s
Front
for
purchased. Moreover, pilot residential
gmail.com
housing projects have already been Democracy and Justice, and ensuring theP.o.Box: 5527
participation of the people in all politicallaunched in the environs of Asmara.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
and development activities of the country.

Vol 1. Issue 4, 15 February 2014

Volume 1, Issue 3

Page 2Foreign Minister Delivers President Isaias’ Message to
President Yoweri Museveni
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh delivered, on 12February, President Isaias Afwerki’s message to
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The President’s
message mainly focused on bilateral and regional issues.

Upon receiving the message, President Yoweri
Museveni lauded President Isaias’ commitment toenhance the existing relations between the twocountries as well as for the promotion of peace andEastern Africa Region Held a Farewell Reception for
Ambassador Girma Asmerom
On 11th February 2014, Ambassadorsand Diplomats of the Eastern Africa
Region based in Addis Ababa organized a farewell reception in honor ofAmbassador Girma Asmerom, Permanent Representative of Eritrea tothe African Union and UNECA.

Turkey and Eritrea Sign
Bilateral Civil Aviation
Agreementof Sierra Leone and Deputy Dean ofthe Western Africa Region also On 11 February 2014, Representagraced the farewell reception with tives of the Governments of Turkey
their presence .
and Eritrea signed bilateral Civil
Aviation Agreement in Asmara.
H.E. Firat Sunel, Turkish Ambassador to Eritrea indicated that theAgreement will pave the way for
On the occasion, H.E. Mr. Mull S.
Turkish Airlines to start scheduled
Katende Ambassador of Uganda andflights to and from Asmara.
Dean of the Eastern Africa Regionand H.E. Prof. Joseph Nsengimana,
Ambassador of Rwanda and Deputy
Dean presented a token gift to Amb. Girma meeting with H.E. Erastus Mwencha
Eritrean Athletes WinAmbassador Girma on behalf of theththOn
the4and10ofFebruary
2014,Region.
Three Races in Spain
Ambassador Girma met with H.E. Mr.
Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission World Half Marathon record holder
and Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Eritrean Zersenay Tadesse and hiscountryman,AmanuelSecretary of UNECA, respectively, fellow
Mesel,won
firstandsecond
placesand thanked them for the cooperation
attheGrandPrix
deCaceres
Cross
they showed him and the Eritrean PerCountry
heldinSpainon
09
manent Mission to the AU and ECA.
February 2014.
Havingcompletedhis
tourofduty
asMoreover, H.E. Mr. Hamadi MeiA week before that, on 2ndmou, Ambassador of Mauritania and Permanent Representative of Eritrea
F e b r u a r y, K i d a n e T a d e s s e
the Chairperson of the Permanent to the African Union and UNECA,(Zersenay’s younger brother) won
Representatives Committee (PRC) of Ambassador Girma Asmerom left
the 55th Marathon Competition held
AU, H.E Dr. Andrew Mtetwa, Addis Ababa on 14 February 2014.
in Madrid, Spain reaching the finish
Ambassador of Zimbabwe and Dean He will soon assume his new post asline ahead of last year's winner José
thePermanentRepresentativeofof the Southern Africa Region; H.E.
and Alvaro Lozano.
Mr. Andrew G. Bangali, Ambassador Eritrea to the United Nations in New
York.
Another Eritrean athlete, SamuelTsegai stood first in the 10,000
meters race that took place on the2nd of February in Valladolid,Spain.

Vol 1. Issue 4, 15 February 2014

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 3

Ancient Temple and Artifacts Uncovered in Adulis
Archaeological excavation in the ancient Port City of Adulis, situatedin the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea about 45 kms south ofMassawa, uncovered a 5th century AD Byzantine Temple as well as
gold, bronze coins and other ancient artifacts.
For centuries Adulis served as a gateway of trade to the Eritrean
hinterland and the Horn of Africa Region.

PRESS RELEASE
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to theUnited Nations in Geneva
Eritrea’s National Report Under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
AdoptedThe Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to theUnited Nations and other International Organizationsin Geneva has the pleasure to announce that the UPR
National Report of Eritrea has been adopted on 6February 2014 during the 18th Session of the UPR
Working Group.

Naturally, challenges remain in some areas. This isthe case with other countries as well as with otherdimensions of the domestic nation building process.
On this occasion, Eritrea reaffirms again its
commitment to further its efforts in the protection
and promotion of human rights in tandem with its
vigorous pursuit of the noble cause of nation building. In this context, it is important to recognize that
Eritrea's unequivocal call to the Human Rights
Council to terminate and rescind country-specificresolutions on Eritrea and instead focus on
strengthening engagement, dialogue and institutional linkage within the UPR framework as both
timely and legitimate.

The Permanent Mission thanks the Presidency of theCouncil, all the delegates and the Troika for theirconstructive participation in the extensive interaction
process that followed in the sequel of Eritrea's
presentation of the report. The proceedings haveonce again underscored Eritrea's commitment to theUPR as the most viable process for dialogue,engagement and cooperation on fundamental humanrights issues. On this occasion, Eritrea reiterates its The proceedings have also highlighted the chalcommitment to further strengthen this process.
lenges and deleterious consequences of continued
occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories byIn essence, the interaction has amplified that many Ethiopia as well as the unjust and illegal UNof the recommendations are along the country's sanctions on the full enjoyment of human rights.
efforts that aim at furthering the advancement of These challenges are part and parcel of the reality
human rights. The wider appreciation of Eritrea's that the country is facing. In this context, Eritrea
achievements and constructive recommendations once again reiterates the sanctity of the UN Humanfrom numerous delegates are clear attestations of the Rights Council principle that underlines theGOE's dedication to promote basic human rights and interconnectedness of peace and security, humanfundamental freedoms.
rights and development. This poses a challenge on
the responsibility of the Human Rights Council to
There were also unbalanced stances from the usual play its pivotal role in the respect of the right of thecountries which unfortunately opted to completely Eritrean people.
ignore efforts made, achievements gained as well as
the challenges faced. This approach is not consistent 07 February 2014
with the UPR mechanism that stresses constructive
and objective dialogue.
Vol 1. Issue 4, 15 February 2014