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

Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
Press Section
Chinese Communist Party Delegation Held Talks with PFDJ
Officials in Asmara

Vol 2. Issue 27
15 February 2015

A Delegation of the Communist Partyof China (CPC) led by Mr. Zhong
Weiyun, Head of the Bureau of Africa
Affairs in the International Departmentof the Central Committee, held talks on
09 February 2015, with Mr. Yemane
Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs ofthe People’s Front for Democracy andJustice (PFDJ).

Inside this issue:
Ethiopia/Djibouti: A
Communiqué Gone 2AstrayThe discussion focused on enhancing
cooperation between the PFDJ and theCPC, as well as between the Governments of Eritrea and China. The twosides also conducted discussions onregional and international issues.

officials of the Foreign Ministry,
Higher Education Commission, as wellas with representatives of the Workers’,
Youth and Women’s Associations, pertaining to the enhancement of bilateralrelations. The Delegation also visited
During its three-day stay in Eritrea, the the port city of Massawa.
Chinese Delegation held meetings withEritrea Participated in the Ministerial Meeting on Maritime
Safety and Security Held in Seychelles
Ambassador Araya Desta, Permanent
Representative of Eritrea to the AU andUNECA, represented Eritrea in the Ministerial Meeting on Maritime Safety andSecurity held in Victoria, Seychelles on
8 and 9 February 2015.
The meeting provided an opportunity
for concerned AU member States andinternational partners to discuss maritime safety and security issues, withparticular focus on the Gulf of Guinea
and the Horn of Africa and mapped out

priorities ahead of the Summit on
maritime security to be convened inTogo in November 2015.
In remarks he made at the meeting,Ambassador Araya reiterated Eritrea’s commitment to ensure thesecurity of the Red Sea maritime
route which has critical importanceto its own peace, security and development, as well as to the safety andsecurity of international shipping.

Vol 2. Issue 27, 15 February 2015

‘Eritrea: A Country
with High Levels ofAccountability forResources andImpressive Returnon Investment’ UNDPA Turkish Delegation Paid a Visit toEritrea
Athletes fromEritrea, Kenya,Sudan, Uganda
Took Part in theFenkil HalfMarathon

333Contact Addresses:
Tel: +251-116620052
Fax:+251-116620011
Email:eritreanaumission@
gmail.com
P.o.Box: 5527
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eritrean Mission toAU& ECA@EritreaAU

Eri-NewsVol 2. Issue 27

PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopia/Djibouti: A Communiqué Gone Astray
In a Joint Communiqué issued at the end of
their “First High Level Joint Commission Meeting” of 9 February 2015, Ethiopia and Djibouti
go out of their way to “condemn” Eritrea for its“continuous destabilization policy” and “urgethe international community to tighten the sanctions imposed” on it.
Eritrea is appalled by this unwarranted and calumnious act of hostility. As it is well known,
Ethiopia continues to occupy sovereign Eritrean
territories in flagrant breach of international law
as well as the fundamental African Union principles of the sanctity of colonial borders almost
13 years after the final and binding arbitralaward of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission. Clearly, Ethiopia’s unlawful behavior
contravenes the integrity of arbitration processes and the basic tenets of international law.
That Ethiopia’s continued occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories constitutes the singularand central cause of regional destabilization is
too palpable to merit additional emphasis. Unfortunately, the authorities in Addis Ababaseem to be immersed in a futile and transparent
game of semantics. On the one hand, they say
they are bound by the “final and binding rulingof the EEBC” only to qualify and annul this hollow “affirmation” and their treaty obligations bycalls for “dialogue” and “readiness to go to Asmara” etc.
Djibouti’s unwarranted stance is also difficult todecipher. As it is well-known, the putative border dispute between the two countries has been
entrusted to the good offices of a mutuallyagreed third party, the State of Qatar. In theevent, Djibouti’s premature and hostile stance ishard to explain in terms of a pending, good-faith,mediation.
On the other hand, there is increasing awarenessin the international community these days that
the UNSC sanctions imposed on Eritrea were notjustified in the first place. Many countries indeed
believe maintenance of the sanctions regime is
not tenable anymore. The Ethiopian regime isclearly worried by the implications of the crescendo against the sanctions on Eritrea and has
used its leverage to insert the unwarranted clausein the Joint Communiqué.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara12 February 2015

Vol 2. Issue 27, 15 February 2015

Page 3Eri-News‘Eritrea: A Country with High Levels of Accountability for Resources and Impressive
Return on Investment’ - UNDP
UNDP-Eritrea released a publication entitled‘Delivering Together for Eritrea’s Development
and Self-Reliance.’ Below is excerpts from thepublication released on 12 February 2015.
“Eritrea has shown commendable commitment to its development agenda. The United
Nations applauds Eritrea’s development
programmes, which have improved the livesof many people despite the harsh environmental conditions in the Horn of Africa.
“Although a number of challenges still exist,
Eritrea is a country with high levels ofaccountability for resources and impressive
return on investment. Small but visible interventions make powerful impacts on people’slivelihoods in Eritrea and evidence showsthat the country has recorded significant
progress towards achieving the healthrelated Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) 4, 5 and 6.

“The UN is pleased to be associated with thisnotable record. Still, much more needs to bedone to achieve the country’s development
aspirations of sustainable economic growth,social equity, justice and human dignity forall. Our support seeks to build on and sustain
the gains already made as well as address
those areas lagging behind. This is a mammoth task that requires huge resources, expanded partnerships and the participation ofother development partners, as well as the international community.”
The publication can be accessed from:http://www.er.undp.org/content/eritrea/en/home/library/human_development/un-in-eritrea/

A Turkish Delegation Paid a Visit to Eritrea
A Delegation from the Prime Ministry of theRepublic of Turkey paid a visit to the State ofEritrea from 4-7 February 2015.
During the visit, the Delegation met and exchanged
views with the Minister of Education, Mr. Semere
Russom, and other Eritrean Government officials oncooperation in the field of education includingscholarship programs.

Athletes from Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda Took Partin the Fenkil Half Marathon
On 07 February 2015, Massawa hosted athleticcompetitions in commemoration of the Silver
Jubilee of Operation Fenkil that brought about theliberation of Massawa in February 1990.

Eritrean Olympic Athlete Zeresenai Tadese won theMen’s Half Marathon race, which saw the participation of athletes from Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan andUganda. Another Eritrean athlete, Nazret Woldu, won
the 10 Kms Women’s race held on the same day.

Vol 2. Issue 27, 15 February 2015