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

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

Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) General
Conference and International Symposium Held in Asmara
The Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) held its 38th session of the General Council in Asmara
on 25th of February. An international
Symposium under the theme „Trade
Union Reforms in Africa‟ was also

representatives of International Labor
Organization, representatives fromChinese Workers Federation, three
Italian Workers Federations and Turkish Workers Federation.

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

Vol 2. Issue 2805 March 2015
Insidethis issue:GovernmentofEritrea Position
Paper on TradeUnions
Eritrean Airlines
Launched Flights toPort Sudan

23

held in Asmara on 23 and 24 February Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Head of Political
2015.
Affairs of the People‟s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) presented
Participants in the symposium and the to the Symposium a position of the Erisession of the General Council includ- trean Government on Trade Unions.
ed 48 heads of African Trade Unions, (The full text of the position paper isavailable on page 2)
Contact Addresses:

Moreover, the leaders of the African
Tel: +251-116620052
Trade Unions held an interactive meetFax:+251-116620011
ing with President Isaias Afwerki, fo- Email:eritreanaumission@
gmail.com
cusing on the challenges African Trade
P.o.Box: 5527
Unions are facing.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eritrean Mission toAU& ECA@EritreaAU

Vol 2. Issue 28, 05 March 2015

Page 2Eri-News

Government of Eritrea Position Paper on Trade Unions
Presented at the 38th Session of the General Council of the Organization of African
Trade Union Unity (OATUU), 2 February, Asmara
The people and Government of Eritrea welcome theOrganization of African Trade Union Unity and alldelegates to the 38th session of its General Council
and the International Trade Union Symposium. It isan honour for us to host these important forum. The
rights and dignity of workers and all working people in the current realities in Africa and globally aswell as the role of trade unions and of international
solidarity are issues of paramount importance.

ity, inequality of both power and wealth, where theincreasingly fewer wealthy and powerful become
wealthier while the livelihood of the overwhelming
majority gets worse. While the rich are bailed out by
governments, the cost of the protracted global economic crisis is borne and paid for by the people in
the form of unemployment, wage cuts, loss of income and opportunities, forced migration and thesinking of members of the middle class into poverty.

The following is Eritrea‟s position paper in the matter, presented briefly in eleven points, in bulletpoint form, in the interests of time.

4.Today our world is also witnessing continual war
and violent conflicts, many of which are major conflicts involving the powerful countries as major
players. The past 15 years of continual war havecaused immense devastation, not only physical andeconomic, but also the fragmentation and disintegration of nations and the break-up of the social fabricof societies, as witnessed in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia and other countries. This situation and thenarrow-minded and sometimes reckless approach tothe raging conflicts have also provided fertile breeding ground to extremist groups who engage in wanton brutality and carnage.

1.Workers and all working people and their organizations, particularly trade unions are an important
force in national, continental and global struggles
for peace, development, human dignity and social
justice.
2.The trade union movement built over centuries ofworkers‟ struggle and at one time a formidable andinfluential political, economic, social and culturalforce has been in decline and on the defensive forseveral decades. It has not recovered since it wassubjected to a massive and sustained assault beginning in the 1980s, the heyday of unfettered and unregulated domination of finance and the so-called“structural adjustment programs,” which were imposed on working people and developing countries.
It was claimed then that there was no alternative
approach and the resistance of trade unions wascrushed, their organizations dismantled and weakened. It is true that lip service continues to be paid
to the central role of workers and their rights andorganizations but the reality speaks otherwise.
3.The setback suffered by the trade union movement is part and parcel of the rolling back of many
political, economic and social gains and interests
previously won by the masses of ordinary people.
Today we live in a world of unprecedented inequal-5.In the current realities, the achievement of therights and dignity of workers and all working people
requires positive, fundamental change at national,
continental and global levels in Africa, the Middle
East and the world; as it is clear that workers‟ rightcannot be assured in nations that are beholden toforeign powers and routinely flout the rights andinterests of citizens, in countries that are racked byviolent, sectarian conflict; in a world of gaping inequalities dominated by few.
6.At the national level, workers and their trade unions and other organizations that seek to secure theirown rights and interests, need to become an integral
and organic part of the struggle of all the people fornations built on citizenship and social justice. In ourview, a nation built on citizenship is one where gov-

Vol 2. Issue 28, 05 March 2015

Continued on page 3

Page 3Eri-News…Continued from page 2

ernments and rulers do not exploit diversity of ethnicity, religion and sect to divide the working people, to maintain themselves in power and to loot thecountry‟s resource. A nation built on citizenship is
also a nation that provides equality of opportunity,
where all citizens have access to basic requirements
and services needed for decent lives. Indeed, citizenship is devoid of all meaning where a few wallow in luxury while the majority live in squalor.

9.These national, continental and global objectives areshared by the overwhelming majority of people, of allnations and faiths, of different walks of life and occupation, holding a diversity of political and ideologicalviews. It is thus clear that workers and their trade unions need to link hands with and embark on a common
effort with all working people, youth, woman, peasants, nomads, professionals, intellectuals as well as
patriotic and socially-responsible entrepreneurs.

7.At the level of Africa and the Arab world (a vastof which is in Africa), a continent endowed withvast natural and human resources, the struggle must
aim at ensuring that these resources benefit first andforemost the African people and the development ofAfrican economies and societies. We must also
struggle for clean, competent and effective governments that serve their people, region and continentand not themselves and their external patrons.

10.For workers to play a key and crucial role in thisbroad social movement for positive change, they need,not just to reform, but to rebuild their organization andthe trade union movement, to regain and carry to ahigher level their power and influence. This will require a clear vision, a well thought out program, a determined effort and strong solidarity and unity.
11.As to Eritrea, our people and government, the People‟s Front for Democracy and Justice , the National
Confederation of Workers, the youth, women, andprofessional associations are ready to shoulder ourresponsibility and make a modest contribution as benefits our modest means to the African and global effort
for a world of dignity for all.

8.Internationally , a global situation that is fraught
with grave danger to human beings and the environment requires that working people and their allies
wage a determined struggle for a peaceful and betterworld; for quality livelihood, sustainable development and social justice; for more equality within
and between nations; for an end to constant war Long live to the solidarity of all working people!
and unwarranted external intervention.
Awet n‟Hafash!

Eritrean Airlines Launched Flights to Port Sudan
The Eritrean Airlines has begun new flight fromand to Asmara-Port Sudan starting from the 28thFebruary 2015.
The inaugural flight at Port Sudan International
Airport was attended by Ms. Askalu Menkerios,
Minister of Tourism, and other senior Eritrean
Government and PFDJ officials, as well as officials of the Sudanese Red Sea region. The event
witnessed the staging of artistic and cultural performances by Eritrean community members inPort Sudan.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Askalu statedthat launching of the flight is a continuation of the developing cooperation of partnership between the twocountries. She also noted that the vitality of the flightas regards strengthening the historical ties of EritreanSudanese people and developing the tourism sectorsof both countries.
Dr. Mohammed Tahir Ella, Governor of the Sudanese
Red Sea region, stated that the people-based relations
between Eritrea and Sudan and the flight would makesignificant contribution to Sudanese who desire tospend their honeymoon in Eritrea, in addition to facilitating the movement of people between two countries.

Vol 2. Issue 28, 05 March 2015