Eritrea: Land of
Can-Do People!

ERI-NEWS

National Service: A toolfor Economic
Development, National
Cohesion and the
Defence of Sovereignty

Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
Press Section
President Isaias held talks with Egyptian Delegation

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66
10 April 2017

President Isaias Afwerki met and heldtalks in Asmara, on 5 April, with Egyptian Business Delegation led by General
Hamdy Badeem, General Manager ofthe Egyptian Company for National
Service.

Inside this issue:
Senior Eritrean
Delegation
Conducted Working
Visits to Egypt,
2
Morocco,2and South Sudan 3

On the Eritrean side, Mr. Hagos
Gebrehiwet, Head of PFDJ Economic
Affairs, Maj. Gen. Humed Karikare,

Asmara Architectural Exhibition inCape Town andNairobi

3

Ethiopia Must
UnconditionallyWithdraw fromSovereign Eritrean 4
Territories
Including the Townof Badme
NCEW held its 7th
Congress

Commander of Eritrean Navy, Col.
Melake Tesfamariam, Chief of Staff ofthe Eritrean Navy as well as Mr. Fasil
Gebreselasie, Eritrean Ambassador to
Egypt attended the meeting.
The Egyptian delegation is slated to
discuss and finalize with Eritrean
counterparts investment proposals onprioritized sectors; and especially on
fisheries. The delegation will also visit
Massawa and other areas in the Red Sea
coast.

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

Eritrean Mission to
AU& ECA@EritreaAU

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

6

Asmara hosted the
5th General
7
Assembly of
OSMA
Eritrean Delegation
Addressed the 34th 8
Session of the
UNHRC
Eritrea Participatedat the 61st Session of 8

the UN CSW

Page 2Eri-News

Senior Eritrean Delegation Visited Egypt
A senior Eritrean delegation comprising Foreign
Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Advisor
Mr. Yemane Gebreab conducted a four-day official
working visit to Egypt.
During the visit, the Eritrean delegation held talks
with Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Sameh Shoukry
and with several business people. The delegation also
visited the large scale national project for fisheries
and aquaculture, the Cairo International Fair for
Egyptian Products and a number of other enterprises.
The bilateral talks centered on strengthening existingsocial, economic, cultural and trade relations between
the two countries with special focus on the sectors ofmarine resources, agriculture, renewable energy,
health, as well as banking and financial services.

tion and joint work to combat terrorism, piracy andhuman trafficking.

In this respect, the two sides agreed to initiate at thisstage concrete cooperation progammes in the sectorsof marine resources and agriculture through theestablishment of a fishing project as well as a joint
model farm in Eastern Eritrea. They also agreed toboost bilateral trade, particularly in terms ofincreased Eritrean imports and mutual investment,
starting with Egyptian investment in Eritrea in identified priority sectors.

In his concluding remark at the wrap us session,
Eritrea’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Osman Saleh,
expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality
accorded to his delegation by the Egyptian Government and officials of all the Egyptian institutions. Mr.
Osman further underlined that the Egyptian high leveland multi-institutional delegation’s visit to Eritrea inthe past month and the Eritrean delegation’s current
visit to Egypt “underscore the determination of thetwo countries to develop their bilateral fraternal ties
into a solid, multi-faceted, partnership that is mutually
beneficial”.

Furthermore, the two sides agreed to enhance theircontinual political consultations and joint efforts
aimed at greater coordination in regional and international forums. The agreement encompasses coopera-

The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Sameh Shoukry
for his part asserted “Egypt’s willingness to strengthen
bilateral relations between the two countries in all
fields, for which there is great potential”.

Senior Eritrean Delegation Conducted a Working Visit to Morocco
A senior Eritrean delegation comprising Foreign
Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Advisor
Mr. Yemane Gebreab conducted a three-day working
visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The Eritrean delegation met the Moroccan Foreign
Minister, Mr. Salehaddin Mzwar and delivered amessage from President Isaias Afwerki to King
Mohamed the Sixth.

ion to Africa. Minister Mzwar on hispart thanked Eritrea
for its strong support
for Morocco andunderlined his country’s readiness todevelop partnershipwith Eritrea.

The two sides discussed consolidation of bilateral ties
as well as regional and global issues. Minister Osman
Saleh congratulated Morocco for the resumption of In the course of its working visit, the delegation met
its membership in the AU and its valuable contribut- with a number of Moroccan officials and investors.

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Page 3Eri-News

Eritrean Delegation Visited Juba
Eritrea’s delegation consisting of Foreign Minister
Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane
Ghebreab met, in Juba, South Sudan’s President
Salva Kiir Myardit on Monday 3 April.

The Eritrean delegation conveyed to President Kiir a
message from President Isaias Afwerki expressing
Eritrea's solidarity and support for the people andgovernment of South Sudan.
President Salva Kiir stated that his government was
ready to continue and develop its long standing
cooperation with Eritrea. He briefed the delegation on
developments in South Sudan and reaffirmed his
government's determination to restore peace, nationalcohesion and to rebuild the economy.
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and the delegation also
met First Vice President Taban Deng Gai anddiscussed priority areas for bilateral cooperation.
Earlier the delegation held a meeting with the Eritrean
community in Juba and apprised them about developments in Eritrea. It hailed their steadfastness andcontributions to their country.

Asmara Architectural Exhibition in Cape Town and Nairobi
An Exhibition depicting Asmara’s architectural It is part of the campaign underway in 16 cities in 9
treasures was staged in Cape Town, South Africa and countries with a view to inscribing Asmara in the
Nairobi, Kenya.
UNESCO World Heritage List.
The exhibition was staged under the theme “Asmara: Diplomats, Eritreans and friends of Eritrea attended
the exhibition, and put their signatures in the Asmara
City of Dreams”.
World Heritage Appeal document.

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Page 4Eri-News

Ethiopia Must Unconditionally Withdraw from Sovereign Eritrean Territories
Including the Town of Badme
Commencement of the Demarcation Process
The Border Dispute Between Eritrea andEthiopia Has Been Resolved Conclusively
The physical demarcation of the border, on the basisof the Delimitation Decision, was envisaged to be
The Agreement signed in Algiers in December 2000,
concluded in November 2003.
by the President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister ofEthiopia, to resolve the border dispute between the In consultation with the Parties, implementation andtwo countries is crystal clear. It was meticulously Demarcation Directives and rules of procedure weredone with no ambiguity or loophole. It was guaran- issued on 21 March and 22 August 2003 and adopted
teed by the UN and the OAU/AU and witnessed by by the Parties. The Commission’s Field Offices were
the U.S, E.U and Algeria.
established in Asmara, Addis Ababa and Adigrat. A
Chief Surveyor was appointed by the Commission andAs per the Algiers Agreement, the Eritrea Ethiopia had taken his post in Asmara. Surveying staff were
Boundary Commission (EEBC) was established in recruited to assist the chief Surveyor. Implementation
2001 with the mandate to make Final and Binding and demarcation activity started in the Eastern Sector
Delimitation and Demarcation Decisions. The Com- in March 2003.
mission was composed of five prominent and highly
respected lawyers (two British, two American and Unfortunately, the Demarcation process was halted
because of the obstructions and intransigence of the
one Nigerian).
Ethiopian Government.
The Commission fulfilled its mandate by unaniEthiopian Government’s Obstructions of themously delivering Final and Binding Delimitation
Demarcation Process
and Demarcation Decisions in 2002 and 2007,
respectively.
The Ethiopian Government with clear objective of
There is no longer contested or disputed border trying to change the Final and Binding Delimitation
between Eritrea and Ethiopia. What we have is Ethio- Decision of the Commission, kept on creating all
kinds of excuses and pretexts to obstruct the Demarcapia’s occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories.
tion of the border. The actions of the Ethiopian
The Government of Eritrea has been calling on the Government were aided and abetted by some western
Guarantors and Witnesses of the Algiers Agreement powers, in particular the U.S. Administration.
to urge the Ethiopian Government to unconditionallywithdraw from sovereign Eritrean territories, includ- The EEBC, even though frustrated by the behavior of
the Ethiopian Government, deployed every means at
ing the town of Badme.
its disposal to convince the Government to respect therule of law and its international obligations.
Final and Binding Delimitation
After thoroughly considering the extensive
arguments presented and evidence submitted by thetwo Parties, the EEBC awarded its Final and Binding
Delimitation Decision on 13 April 2002. The flashpoint of the dispute, Badme, was awarded to Eritrea.
Eritrea fully accepted the Decision. The Decision was
welcomed by the Guarantors and Witnesses of theAgreement.

But Ethiopia insisted on ‘dialogue’ as well as the‘creation of an alternative mechanism’ and introduction of ‘third party or a neutral body’ to demarcate theborder. The Commission rejected Ethiopia’s requests.
The legal view of the EEBC on Ethiopia’s diplomaticgames was firm and left no room for ambiguity. The
President of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commiss-Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Contd. on page 5

Page 5Eri-News

Ethiopia Must Unconditionally Withdraw from Sovereign Eritrean Territories …
(Contd. from page 4)ion (EEBC), Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, in a letter (quoted
below), dated 27th November 2006, addressed to thethen Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, debunked Ethiopia’s blame game and put squarely the responsibilityof the problems encountered in the demarcation
process on Ethiopia’s intransigence and obstructions.
“You place great emphasis on ‘the need for
dialogue and support by neutral bodies tohelp the two Parties make progress indemarcation and normalization of theirrelations.’ Of course, ‘the normalization ofrelations’ is a desirable objective but that isa matter that falls outside the scope of theCommission’s mandate, which is solely todelimit and demarcate the border. The scopefor ‘dialogue’ is limited to what is necessary
between the Commission and the Parties tofurther the actual process of demarcation on
the ground. There is no room within theframework of the Algiers Agreement for the
introduction of ‘neutral bodies’ into thedemarcation process.”“Your letter seeks to blame the Commission
for Ethiopia’s failure to meet its obligations
under the Algiers Agreement. Such blame isentirely misplaced. The truth of the matter
appears to be that Ethiopia is dissatisfied
with the substance of the Commission’s
Delimitation Decisions and has been seeking, ever since April 2002, to find ways ofchanging it. This is not an approach which
the Commission was empowered to adopt
and is not one to which the Commission canlend itself.”

approach to fulfill its mandate of demarcating theborder.
The EEBC, stating that “it evidently, cannot remain inexistence indefinitely,” adopted the internationallyaccepted and practiced procedure of demarcation bycoordinates. Previous instances of demarcation bycoordinates referred by the EEBC include the Beagle
Channel Case, the Iraq-Kuwait Border Demarcation
Commission’s (IKBDC) Decision of 1993, the Argentine-Chile frontier case (1966) and the manner inwhich the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea deals with the limits of maritime claims bystates.
The EEBC, using modern techniques of image
processing and terrain modeling in conjunction withthe use of high resolution aerial photographs, identified boundary points both grid and geographical coordinates and demarcated the Eritrea-Ethiopia border.
The Commission wrote letters to the two Parties andthe Secretary General of the UN stating that: “TheCommission hereby determines that the boundary
will automatically stand as demarcated by theboundary pillars points listed in the Annex hereto
and that the mandate of the Commission can thenbe regarded as fulfilled.”
On 30 November 2007, the EEBC sent to the Parties
signed copies of 45 maps on a scale of 1:25,000
containing the demarcation of the boundary by coordinates. A copy was deposited with the United Nations.
Another copy for public reference is retained in the
Office of the U.N Cartographer.
Ethiopia Must Vacate Eritrean Territories

No matter what one Party to the Algiers Agreement
may feel and say, the boundary between Eritrea andAfter the Ethiopian Government failed to uphold its Ethiopia is Delimited and Demarcated in a Final andcommitment under the Algiers Agreement and allow Binding Manner. What remains is for Ethiopia to
the placement of the pillars and markers on the immediately and unconditionally withdraw from theEritrean territories it is occupying illegally.
ground, the EEBC was obliged to resort to anotherFinal and Binding Demarcation

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Page 6Eri-News

National Confederation of Eritrean Workers held its 7th Congress
The 7th Congress of the National Confederation ofEritrean Workers (NCEW) was held in Asmara from27 to 29 March, under the theme “Strong Organization for Robust Union.”
The Congress commenced in the presence of President Isaias Afwerki, senior government officials,
members of the diplomatic corps, and representativesof international organizations and trade unions.

In the course of the three-day Congress, seminars bysenior government officials were conducted. Besides,a Ten-year Activity Report of the Confederation waspresented and extensive discussion conducted on thereviewed constitution of the NCEW. The Congress
adopted a number of recommendations and resolutions
and elected 65 Permanent and 7 Alternative Central
Committee members. Mr. Tekeste Baire was
In his opening speech, Secretary General of the re-elected as the General Secretary of the ConfederaNCEW, Mr. Tekeste Baire, thanked the participants tion.
and expressed his gratitude to Eritrean workers fortheir devotion towards national development. He said
that the concepts of ‘country’ and ‘workers’ are two
faces of a coin, which is why he added, that Eritrean
youth both fought and worked for the country’s
independence and are actively taking part in theongoing struggle for development and safeguarding
sovereignty.
President Isaias Afwerki, in his key note address to
the Congress, underscored that “as we pay tribute to
the long and proud history of struggle of Eritrean
workers, it is imperative and timely to ask where
does the NCEW want to go and how will it proceed
in the years ahead”. President Isaias then explainedthat the vision and strategy Eritrea tenaciously
pursued for its strategic nation building process was
mainly aimed at ensuring sustainable and equitable
improvement in the livelihood of Eritrean citizens, toincrease productivity for economic growth andprosperity, to build widespread infrastructure in all
developmental sectors, to open ample employment
opportunities and above all, to cultivate and enhancea professional, experienced and highly disciplinedlabor force in all sectors, industries and enterprises.

Representatives from the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Confederation of Trade
Unions (ICTU), the Organization of African Trade
Union Unity (OATUU), International Trade Union
Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa), International
Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as well as Trade
Unions delegates from Turkey, Sudan, Kenya,
Algeria, Italy and SUKE, a philanthropic associationfrom Switzerland, participated in the Congress.
The Representatives of regional and global workers
organizations who participated at the NCEW
Congress, expressed their appreciation for the commitment of the Eritrean Government to safeguard andpromote the rights of workers and the active participation of the workers representatives at the Congress.

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Page 7

Eri-News

Asmara hosted the 5th General Assembly of the Organization of Military Sports in Africa
The 5th General Assembly of Organization of to the Eritrean government for hosting the meeting and
Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) was held in expressed conviction that the General Assembly
would eventually bear a sense of common understandAsmara from 11-13 March 2017.
The Assembly, which was attended by over 50 high ing among participating member states that their presence is encouraging in the accomplishment ofranking military officials from over 22 African countries, elected Col. Kabre David as President of the OSMA’s inspiring mission.
organization while 18 African countries including At the end of the three-day session, General Flipos
Eritrea became members of the Organization’s Weldeyohannes gave closing remarks expressing
conviction that fruitful outcome that could promote
Executive Board.

Speaking on the occasion in which senior government and PFDJ officials, diplomatic corps andinvited guests were present, General Flipos Weldeyohannes, Chief of Staff of the Eritrean Defense Forces,
pointed out that Eritrea is honored to host theAssembly, and underscored the paramount importance of sports in developing the physical and mental
fitness, advancing spirit, promoting unity andharmony as well as instilling discipline.
Stating that Eritrea since the liberation struggle has
been exerting unremitting efforts to promote sports
activities in a well-organized manner, General Flipos
underlined that military sports has been going on
throughout the country in an annual basis and as aresult a number of sportsmen and sportswomen havebeen able to participate in many of the most popularinternational sports competitions.

military sports in Africa has been achieved in thecourse of the meeting. General Flipos further notedthat the meeting has been a platform in which
Eritrea’s experience in military sports was shared withthe participants while it also reflected the country’s
true image.
The new president of OSMA, Colonel Kabre David
expressed appreciation to the Eritrean government for
hosting the meeting while reaffirming his readiness todiligently work in collaboration with the member
states and particularly with the members of the Executive Board so as to achieve the setout goals of theorganization.

The Session was attended by a number of high ranking
military officials from several African countries
including South Africa, Algeria, Guinea, Cameroon,
Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Tanzania, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, Egypt,
In a speech he delivered on behalf of Lieutenant
General Meguedad Benziane, the President of Ivory Coast, Zambia, Botswana, Mauritania, Burkina
OSMA, Colonel Kabre David expressed appreciation Faso, Mali, Congo Brazzaville, Morocco and Burundi.

Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017

Page 8Eri-News

Eritrean Delegation Addressed the 34th Session of the UNHRC
ous manner – through public meetings, weekly TV,
radio programmes as well as regular columns in theprinted press. These campaigns will consolidate publicknowledge and full awareness of the laws of the country and enhance the rule of law.
The Delegation of Eritrea addressed the 34th Sessionof the UN Human Rights Council, on 13 March
2017, in response to the oral update of the Special
Rapporteur on Eritrea. The Delegation outlined theprogress achieved in fast-tracking, as part of theoverall developmental programs, the implementationof the UPR Working Group recommendations that
Eritrea has accepted, inter alia:
1. National service: The prolongation of National
Service has been imposed on Eritrea due to thethreats of war that continue unabated. This state ofaffairs notwithstanding, the Government of Eritrea
has introduced in the past two years a raft ofmeasures, including harmonization and substantial
increments on the Civil Service Salary Scale. As aresult, National Service Members, the majority ofwhom are assigned to professional and civilian tasks,
as well as those who remain in the Military, areobtaining remunerations that are congruent with theirprofessional/skill and occupational services. The
Government of Eritrea also continues to demobilize
female members on a continuous basis.

3. UPR: Coordinated efforts and expanded Government engagement and cooperation have been stepped
up. The first coordinated yearly evaluation was
conducted in December 2016 in Asmara. The evaluation has led to planning on wider scale by criticallyassessing the ongoing process. Agreement wasreached to fast track and undertake a midterm formative evaluation in May 2017. This will enhancecontinuous follow up and preparation of the third
Cycle of the UPR Report. In general, significant
strides have been made in the implementation of many
areas in particular in the administration of justice, inareas of development and social equality, in the
penitentiary system, in engagement and international
cooperation
4. Cooperation with UN: Cooperation in the implementation of the UPR Recommendations and generalhuman rights issues and cooperation with the office ofHigh Commissioner is also proceeding smoothly inaccordance to the projected schedule.
The delegation concluded its Statement by reassuring
the Council the commitment of the Government of theState of Eritrea to safeguard human rights.

2. New Legal Codes: Sensitization campaigns on The full text of the statement is available at:
the revised Eritrean Civil, Penal and their procedural http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/23609Codes have and continue to be undertaken in a rigor- statement

Eritrea Participated at the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
An Eritrean delegation headed by Ms. Tekea
Tesfamichael, President of the National Union ofEritrean Women (NUEW), participated at the 61st
Session of the UN Commission of the Status of
Women which was held from 13 to 24 March 2017 in
New York.
On the sidelines of the session, Ms. Tekea conducteddiscussions with representatives of various countries
on reinforcing bilateral ties and cooperation.
Vol 4. Issue 65 and 66, 10 April 2017