Eritrea: Land ofCan-Do People!
(Yikealo! kikewn eyu

ERINEWSkemey zeykewn!)

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

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

Volume 1, Issue 21

PFDJ Secretary Took Part in the 4th General Congress ofSudan’s National Congress Party
The Secretary of the People’s Front and their leadership attach great signififor Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), cance to enhancing the partnership
Mr. Al-Amin Mohamed Seid, took between the two nations.
part in the 4th General Congress ofSudan’s ruling National Congress
Party.
In a solidarity message he conveyed
at the opening session of theCongress, on 23 October, on behalf ofPresident Isaias Afwerki, Chairman of
the PFDJ, and the Eritrean people,
Mr. Al-Amin pointed out that Eritrea
and Sudan constitute a geo-politicalunit in the Red Sea region as well as
the Horn of Africa and Nile Riverregion. He further explained that thegeographical proximity of the twocountries has enabled them to work inpartnership in different domains forthe benefit of both peoples.

01 November 2014
Inside this issue:
Eritrea Reiterated
its Call for theLifting of the Unfair 2and Unjust
Sanctions

Eritrea
Participated in theLaunching of...
(continued frompage 1)

During his stay in Khartoum, Mr. AlAmin met with several Sudanese government officials including Gen. Bekri
Hassan Saleh, First Vice President;
Prof. Ibrahim Gendur, Assistant President; Mr. Al-Fatah Uzedin, Chairman ofThe PFDJ Secretary stated that the Parliament and held discussions onunity and prosperity of Sudan has a strengthening the existing bilateral relapositive impact on neighbouring tions.
countries, and that the Eritrean people

Eritrea – SouthAfrica Festival(ERISA) Launched
UN DayCelebrated inEritrea: Looking
Beyond 2015234Eritrea Participated in the Launching of theNew Horn of Africa Initiative
The new Horn of Africa (HoA) Initiative led by the World Bank waslaunched on 27 November 2014 at theHeadquarters of the UN Economic
Commission for Africa in Addis
Ababa. The initiative aims to addresssome of the key drivers of instability
in the HoA and promote developmentin the area.

The launching ceremony was attended
by the Foreign Ministers and representatives of the countries of the Horn, theSecretary-General of the United
Nations, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Presidentof the World Bank Group, the Deputy
Executive Secretary of the UNECA,
and the Executive Secretary of IGAD.
(continues on page 2)

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 1. Issue 21, 01 November 2014

Page 2Eri-News

Eritrea Reiterated its Call for the Lifting of the Unfair and Unjust SanctionsOn 14 July and 12 August 2014 Eritrea submitted
responses to the various requests for informationfrom the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group(SEMG). Moreover, on 10 October 2014, Eritrea
presented its views in detail during the informal
consultations with the UN Security Council Committee Established pursuant Resolutions 751(1992)
and 1907(2009).
Here is an excerpt from Eritrea’s response dated 14July 2014.
“It is now five years since the unjust sanctions wereimposed on Eritrea. They have not contributed toregional peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
In fact, if they are not lifted they will bring and perpetuate more instability and conflict to the region.
Indeed, they are harming the people of Eritrea,
hampering economic and social development. It is
now clear that there is no justification for the continuation of sanctions.
“The initial and principal accusation concerning
Eritrean support to Al-Shabaab has long been

proven to be non-existent. Moreover, Eritrea iscommitted to the Qatari mediation in relation to theEritrea-Djibouti issue.
“Therefore, it is now clear that there is no justification for their continuation. Eritrea once again
appeals to the United Nations Security Council tourgently lift these unjust and counterproductive
sanctions.
“The events over the past 15-years and the facts on
the ground clearly show that it is Ethiopia, notEritrea that is actively engaged in destabilizing theregion. Its continued occupation of sovereign Eritrean territory, including the town of Badme, withimpunity, in violation of the United Nations Charterand its treaty obligation is the main cause of the instability in the Horn of Africa. In the interest ofpeace and security in the region and within the context of Resolutions 1907 (2009) and 2023 (2011),
which reaffirms respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Eritrea, Ethiopia must be urged
immediately and without any precondition to withdraw from sovereign Eritrean territories, including
the town of Badme.”

Eritrea Participated in the Launching of the …(continued from page 1)
The representatives of the African Development Bank,Islamic Development Bank and the European Union
were also in attendance. H.E. Ambassador Araya
Desta, Permanent Representative of Eritrea to AU andUNECA, participated in the event representing H.E.
Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Araya
expressed Eritrea's appreciation for the timely initiative. He indicated that utilizing the region’s potential
is predicated on bolstering and reinvigorating paradigms of collective well-being and well-fare that transcend traditional, zero-sum, power politics at the interState level; supplemented by a more congenial domestic or intra-State environment of good governancerooted on the twin pillars of social harmony and inclusiveness.
In regard to Eritrea’s views on and inputs to the areasprioritized by the initiative, Ambassador Araya highlighted:• On vulnerability and resilience - the need for a

two-track or parallel approach that is aimed at addressing the underlying causes while pursuing temporary
measures to mitigate the emergency situations in theshort-term,• On conflict prevention and resolution - the needfor critical assessment of the prevailing security architectures to address intrinsic flaws and operationalmodalities,• On communications - the importance of enhancing
fibre-optic based, broadband, Internet connectivity inthe region; particularly in the countries where this islacking,• In the extractive industry - emulation of best practices; joint development of models for investment
terms and instruments; maximisation of local sharethrough effective involvement in the value chains;
and, increasing local capabilities and competencies,• On public private partnership arrangements – thenecessity of developing creative schemes that facilitate
access to foreign currency and favourable credit terms
both for capex and working capital.
The full text of the statement is available at: http://goo.gl/EbXF7T

Vol 1. Issue 21, 01 November 2014Page 3

Eri-NewsEritrea – South Africa Festival (ERISA) Launched
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State ofEritrea and the Embassy of the Republic of SouthAfrica in Asmara hosted the launch event of theEritrea – South Africa Festival (ERISA) on 30thOctober 2014. The event took place at the Expo
Conference Hall in Asmara, with the theme “People,Liberation and Development.”

Likewise, the South African Ambassador to Eritrea,
Prof. Iqbal Jhazbhay, explained that the Festival will
be held annually in a manner that would enhance
all-rounded relations between Eritrea and SouthAfrica. Ambassador Iqbal also indicated that thetwo countries are striving to coordinate their efforts
in the international arena. He also expressed hiscountry’s condemnation of the sanctions imposedon Eritrea.
The planned range of activities in the Festival
include films, public lectures, handicraft/ design/
fashion event, food and music festival, and a MiningSeminar.

The Festival is being held to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Embassy ofSouth Africa in Asmara.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Tesfa
michael Gerahtu stated that Eritrea and South Africashare similar historical experience of struggle for
freedom and justice. He further pointed out that
more efforts need to be exerted towards reinforcing
the existing political, economic, cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Vol 1. Issue 21, 01 November 2014

Page 4Eri-News

UN Day Celebrated in Eritrea: Looking Beyond 2015
The shaping of the new development agenda, andhow to learn from Eritrea’s impressive record on
the health MDGs in the process, were the issues infocus for UN Day in Eritrea.
Government officials, the diplomatic community,students, academia, private sector, as well as the UN
and civil society gathered on 24th October to celebrate UN Day. The day started with tree planting inpartnership with the National Union of Eritrean
Youth and Students (NUEYS) in Serejeka area; on
the outskirts of Asmara. Thereafter everyone gathered in the UN compound to share drinks and cut
the UN Day cake. The evening panel discussion
focused on the process taking place at a global levelto shape a successor agenda to the Millennium
Development Goals.

Dr. Andeberhan Tesfazion, Director General in theMinistry of Health, gave light to one importantlesson on how Eritrea had reached the health related
MDGs; “We left no-one behind – we focused on thenomadic and hard-to reach areas”, he explained.
Towards the post-2015 agenda
During the discussions, former Eritrean Ambassador
to the UK, Tesfamichael Gerathu, underlined how
the new, proposed Sustainable Development Goals
have to be seen in context of Eritrean nation building and that they have to be contextualized with national development goals.
Charge d’Affairs a.i, of the EU Delegation, Marc
De-Bruycker expressed that the current drafting ofthe National Development Plan was welcomed by
all development partners.
Youth in focus
The representative from the NUEYS, Yasmin Tesfaldet, underlined that the proposed Sustainable Development Goals need to have meaning to each andevery one to be effective. “The new SDGs will
speak to governments, organizations, and to laymen. We need to embrace the goals, they need to beconcise, as clear and simple as possible”, she said.

The representative of the NUEYS also pointed outthat it is important that development should beyouth led and that stress should be put on employSpeaking on the occasion, the Eritrean Minister of ment and entrepreneurship, and technological andForeign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Osman Saleh, said that social innovation, as young people are heavily“Eritrea values a partnership that underpins national affected by lack of employment opportunities.
ownership, mutual trust and benefit.”
Furthermore, she emphasized the issue of brain
drain as an issue of concern.
Ms. Christine N. Umutoni, UN Eritrea Resident andHumanitarian Coordinator on her part stated: “I be- The evening ended with a get together and an art
lieve Eritrea has a lot to share that could help for- exhibition showing the different art work of themulate, shape and implement the Post- 2015 Devel- youth who had undertaken an art and poetry compeopment outlook for the good of humanity,”
tition prior to the UN day with the theme ‘youth andLearning lessons from the MDGs

development’. Winners received awards.
Eritrea has made good progress with the healthrelated MDGs ahead of time, an accomplishment Source: UNDP Eritreathat was highlighted in a recent event during theGeneral Assembly of the UN in New York.

Vol 1. Issue 21, 01 November 2014