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

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

President Isaias Received the Credentials of 25 Ambassadors
On the 9th and 10th of October 2014, 16.
President Isaias Afwerki received thecredentials of 25 Ambassadors.
17.
The Ambassadors who handed-over18.
their credentials are:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

H.E. Mr. Abdelkader Hijazi ofAlgeria,
H.E. Mrs. Roxane de Bilderling ofBelgium,
H.E. Mr. Dominique Rossetti ofCanada,
H.E. Mr. Christian Manahl of EU,
H.E. Dr. Andreas Zimmer ofGermany,
H.E. Mr. Yogeshwar Varma ofIndia,
H.E. Dr. Burhanuddin Badruzzaman of Indonesia,
H.E. Mr. Shabib Jovaijari of Iran,
H.E. Mr. Stefano Pontesilli ofItaly,
H.E. Mr. Tatsushi Tereda ofJapan,
H.E. Mr. Pak Chun II of D.P.R.
Korea,
H.E. Mr. Pak Won-sup of R.o.
Korea,
H.E. Mr. Mohammed R.H. Dukaliof Libya,
H.E. Mr. Fabio Massimo Cantarelli of Malta,
H.E. Mr. Morten Von Hanno
Aasland of Norway,

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

H.E. Mr. Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui ofPakistan,
H.E. Mr. Michal Murkocinski ofPoland,
H.E. Mr. Mamadou Mamadou Sallof Senegal,
H.E. Mr. Ivan Zivikovik of Serbia,
H.E. Mr. Juan Gonzalez Barba ofSpain,
H.E. Mr. Paul Malok of South
Sudan,
H.E. Mr. Martin Strub of Switzerland,
H.E. Dr. Batilda Salha Buriani ofTanzania,
H.E. Mr. David Ward of UK, andH.E. Archbishop Hubertus
Matheus Maria of the Vatican.

During the ceremony held at Denden
Hall in Asmara, President Isaias briefed
the Ambassadors on Eritrea’s achievements in the development and diplomaticarenas, discussed on further developing
the existing partnerships with the respective countries, and wished them successful tours of duty.
The Ambassadors on their part, expressed the readiness of their respective
nations to develop mutual co-operation
with Eritrea on the basis of partnership,including in trade and investment
domains, as well as in political anddiplomatic activities.

Vol 1. Issue 20, 18 October 2014

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

Volume 1, Issue 20
18 October 2014
Inside this issue:
Eritrea Participatedin the AU Regional 2
Conference on
Human Traffickingand Smuggling in theHorn of Africa
50 Mining Companies Participated inthe 5th Asmara
Mining Conference
Eritrea Reaffirmed
Unequivocal
Condemnation ofTerrorism in All its
Forms andManifestations

44

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

Eri-News

Volume 1, Issue 20Eritrea Participated in theAU Regional Conference on Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn of Africa
A high-level Eritrean Delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Osman Saleh, participated in the African Union Regional Conference on
Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn ofAfrica which took place in Khartoum, Sudan from
13-16th October 2014.
The Conference was attended by representatives of
the core countries of the initiative - i.e. Egypt,
Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan - as well as several
neighboring and partner countries and organizations.
At the Experts meeting that took place from 13-15
October, Ambassador Araya Desta, Permanent
Representative of Eritrea to the AU and UNECA,
made a presentation that highlighted the pull andpush factors that cause and exacerbate humantrafficking and smuggling and their consequencesin the region.

Eritrea’s presentation also exposed the politicized
preferential asylum policies of certain countries towards Eritreans which subjects the youth to the dangers of human trafficking and smuggling as well as
attracts many non-Eritreans to pretend to be Eritreans to expedite their asylum claims. The Presentation
explained in detail the efforts made by the Eritrean
Government to combat and prevent human trafficking and smuggling at national, regional and international levels.
Minister Osman Saleh, in his remarks to theMinisterial segment that was convened on the 16thof October, put forward a number of recommendations to resolve the problem and reaffirmed Eritrea’s
commitment to combat the scourge. (The full text ofhis speech is found on page 3)

Vol 1. Issue 20, 18 October 2014

Volume 1, Issue 20

Eri-News

REMARKS BY H.E. MR. OSMAN SALEHMINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE STATE OF ERITREA
AT THE AFRICAN UNION REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
SMUGGLING IN THE HORN OF AFRICA, 16 OCTOBER 2014as active citizen political participation to provide increased opportunities for citizens incountries that are currently sources of migration.

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Eritrea wholeheartedly welcomes the convening of
this meeting keenly aware that this is but the latest ina long series of forums organized to address the critical issue of migration and the crime of human trafficking, which is affecting millions of people andnations throughout the world. Previous gatherings
have patently failed to stem the tide of illegal migration or constrain the human traffickers. If this meeting and the related next November gathering inRome are to make a tangible contribution towards
solving this complex problem, they cannot be mere
public relations exercises. We should not be meetingfor PR purposes, to seem to be doing something, butto actually do something, to make a difference forour peoples and nations, to bring results within afixed period of time.
This requires that we go beyond general statementson the need to address the root causes of the problem
to taking concrete steps, within specified timeframes
to address these root causes. It also requires, at leastin Eritrea’s case, that the selective, mistaken, unjustified and counter-productive politicization of theissue of migration and the consequent victimizationof Eritrean migrants as well as the rampant nationality-switching is brought to a swift end.
As part of a comprehensive approach to address theissue of migration and human trafficking, Eritrea
proposes the following: A robust and concerted effort to identify, arrestand prosecute the human trafficking criminals,
and all those who in different guises, including
human rights activism, are complicit in thesecrimes.

 A

review of the migration policies of thecountries of destination, and in Eritrea’s case,the end of the selective and unjustified politicization of the migration issue.

 Protection of the rights of all migrants, includ-ing their right to education, skills training,
employment as well as their right to maintaintheir links to and visit their home country.
Implementation of these measures, with a view tomaking tangible progress within a time frame ofthree to five years, requires a strong political will
and commitment of all concerned nations as well as
their resolute, sustained and coordinated efforts.
For Eritrea, fighting illegal migration and humantrafficking is an important national priority. Alongwith the continued illegal occupation of sovereign
territory and the imposition of unjust sanctions,promoting illegal migration has been a particularly
insidious part of the tool box employed to undermine the country. Despite these obstructions,however, Eritrea is completely focused on andactively working for sustainable political, social andeconomic nation-building. Sustained, and relative toour resources, massive investment in socioeconomic reconstruction and human resources
development is beginning to bear fruit and we areconfident that the next few years will see tangible
change in the lives of our people, which will all also
have a bearing on migration patterns. Eritrea isdetermined to work with all partners, the neighboring as well as European countries, to fight humantrafficking, which is a crime against humanity, andto address its root causes.

 A

determined effort for broad-based andsustained socio-economic development as well I thank you!

Vol 1. Issue 20, 18 October 2014

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50 Mining Companies Participated in the 5th Asmara Mining Conference
The 5th Asmara Mining Conference was held from 1-5 October
2014 in Asmara under the theme‘Mining Excellence for Driving
Economic Growth’. The Conference was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Eritrea.

The participants included Eritrean
Government officials, representatives of several countries, representatives of 50 mining companies,and mining industry experts.
The Minister of Energy and Minesof Eritrea, General Sbhat Efrem, in
his opening remarks indicated thatabout 60% of Eritrea’s territory
contains mineral resources. The

Minister further elucidated the Participants also got the chance toother advantages Eritrea enjoys by tour Bisha, Koka, Debarwa,
stating that: "Given its unique pro- Embaderho and Adi-Nifas mines.
cess of nation formation, its excel- Steam train journey down thelent strategic location, its disci- escarpment to Massawa, andplined human resources, corrup- visits to Massawa and Dahlak
tion-free institutions, sound mac- Islands were also organized.
roeconomic policy, judicious andfar looking mining law, and exceptional national cohesion andstability, Eritrea is in far moreadvantageous position to deal withthe transition towards a progressive integration into the globalizedeconomy."
At the Conference, representativesof mining companies and experts
presented updates and papers on The list of the mining companies
the experiences, achievements and currently operating in Eritrea
accomplishments of the mining includes Bisha, Zara, Asmara,companies operating in Eritrea.
Colluli, Beijing Sinoma, Andiamo
Exploration,Ketina,Furthermore, a pictorial exhibition Kerkebet, Land Energy Group,
portraying the activities of the Adobha Resources, etc. Manymining companies operating in more are in the stage of conductEritrea, as well as the firms sup- ing studies.
plying machineries and equipment
was staged at the conference site.

Eritrea Reaffirmed Unequivocal Condemnation of Terrorism in All Its Forms andManifestations
Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Girma Asmerom, reaffirmed
Eritrea’s unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its formsand manifestations. He made theremarks on 09 October 2014, atthe Sixth Committee of the 69th
session of the UN General Assembly on the item concerning Ambassador Girma stressed thatmeasures to eliminate international Eritrea strongly believes thatterrorist acts constitute flagrantterrorism.

violations of international law
and human decency. He further
expressed Eritrea’s convictionthat acts of terrorism should not
be associated with any single
religion, nationality, civilizationor ethnic group.
The Ambassador went on to emphasize that when combating terrorism any action taken must beconsistent with international law,Continued on page 5

Vol 1. Issue 20, 18 October 2014

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Eritrea Reaffirmed Unequivocal Condemnation of Terrorism... Continued from page 4
and that the UN as well as regional organizations sharing and exchange of best practices among countries
should play important role in combating terror- and other stakeholders. Ambassador Girma also underscored the need to effectively prevent and control theism and respecting the rules of engagement.
spread of terrorism, lay equal emphasis on devoting reIn this connection, Ambassador Girma stated sources to the four pillars identified in the Global Counthat in order to combat all types of extremism ter Terrorism Strategy, including the root causes of terand terrorism, Eritrea has put in place various rorism.
national legislative measures, besides taking
The Ambassador made reference to the need for
concrete actions.
addressing long-standing inter and intra state conflicts,
Moreover, he underlined that a unified global as well as politically motivated unjust sanctions imposed
response is needed to effectively combat the against developing countries as part of the overall stratedanger posed by terrorists, including information gy towards fighting all forms of terrorism.

Vol 1. Issue 20, 18 October 2014