More News


  Ethiopian fighter planes bomb civilian areas
  NDA forces capture Haferet garrison, SPLA captures Sama-Aradeib
  Somali faction leaders accuse TPLF regime of aggression
  TPLF regime must account for the 1000 Eritreans missing in Ethiopia
  UNSC's renewed call for cessation of hostilities, implementation of OAU Framework Agreement
  Woyane regime's lies and fabrications Vs. realities
  Playing with Fire
  Urgent call for action to peacefully resolve border conflict
  A tragic and senseless war
  The Ethiopian regime's absurd equation
  Ethiopia, change of heart or just playing with words?
  Reality presented as drama
  Flue of the mind
  Why targeting children?
  Open letter to the leadership Ethiopian Government Addis Ababa
  Eritreans residing in Boston, environs raise US$ 1.1 M. in contributions
  Public Health and the environment
  Delegation leaves for Windhoek
  Dr. Amare underlines Ethiopia's violation of Eritrea's sovereignty, basic human rights of its nationals
  For Eritrea
  PEACE

Kebreab Habtemichael

TPLF regime must account for the 1000 Eritreans missing in Ethiopia

The TPLF lie machine is at work again. In a statement issued on April 13, the TPLF accused Eritrea for the "arbitrary arrest, torture and abduction of Ethiopian nationals in Eritrea" and fabricated a list of some 20 people to "prove" its point. These accusations are groundless and designed to detract attention from the known actions of the TPLF regime toward Eritreans in Ethiopia....

Why targeting children?

In a series of its human rights violations in general and that of children in particular the Ethiopian regime Thursday bombed a school in Adi keyih similar to that of Shambiqo wounding eleven children-some of them critically. This barbaric bombardment of schools was once again claimed by the maniac spokesperson of the Addis Ababa regime to be "an attack on military targets".
Worth noting in this respect is that this barbaric act took place only two days after the UN Security Council renewed its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement
Eritrean children are facing bombardments while their counterparts in Ethiopia are dragged into the war forcibly from their schools and workplace. Can we expect from a regime which is listed as one from among the ten countries occupying top place as regards violation of human rights to respect the Convention on the Rights of the Child signed by Ethiopia for the sake of signing? Of course, No!
Therefore, we urge the international community to take action similarto the one it took in defence of Kosovo to save both the Eritrean and Ethiopian childrenfrom the barbarism of the Ethiopian regime before it is too late.
Executive Committee
National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS)

UNSC's renewed call for cessation of hostilities, implementation of OAU Framework Agreement

Expressing its serious concern at the continuing hostilities between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the UN Security Council on April 13 once again called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement.
A press release issued by the President of the Security Council said that Council Members voiced strong support to the efforts of the Secretary-General to promote, in full coordination with the OAU, a peaceful resolution to the border dispute.
Members of Security Council also said that they particularly welcome Secretary-General to send again his special envoy for Africa, Mr. Sahnoun, on a mission to the region in support of the OAU efforts, and called on both parties to cooperate with Mr. Sahnoun.
In addition, Council Members urged both parties to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to fulfill its mandate according to the Geneva Convention and in particular to give ICRC unhindered access to prisoners of war...

The Ethiopian regime's absurd equation

by Tesfaldet Yohannes Negusse (cobra)
1. In its Resolution No. 1227 of February 10, 1999, the United Nations Security Council urged , "All States to end immediately sales of arms and ammunitions to Ethiopia and Eritrea ." In a response to this call , the TPLF regime stated, "Historic and grave mistakes reminiscent of injustice done to Ethiopia by the League of Nations by equating the victim of aggression with the aggressor." Not only this , but it also orchestrated the well known slogan, "Long live Ethiopian heroism of the Battle of Adowa" to commemorate double victories , one for the Battle of Adowa and the other for the Battle of Badme in 1999 , in the Anniversary of the TPLF on February 18,1999 (E. C. 10, February 1991). These two points of an equation formulated by the Ethiopian regime deserve an exposure. It is perhaps appropriate to deal with the second component of the equation and proceed to the first one. 2.First of all, resounding of the slogan of military victory of Menelik's army over the Italian army in the Battle of Adowa in 1896 has no relevance to the on -going Battle of Badme between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces in 1998-1999...

Ethiopia, change of heart or just playing with words?

by Kebire A. Ahmed (for Visafric)
The OAU Proposal for a Framework Agreement was based on the principles of Peaceful Resolution, Rejection of the use of force and respect for Resolution AHG/Res. 16(1). In congruence with these principles, Eritrea has been and still is calling for an immediate cease-fire, rejection of use of force as a solution and unconditional respect of all colonial treaties.
Based on the above listed principles, the OAU delegation recommended that: " The two parties [Eritrea and Ethiopia] commit themselves to an immediate cessation of hostilities." Ethiopia accepted the recommendation in November 1998, while Eritrea requested clarification on some points and eventually accepted the proposal.
Nevertheless, it was Eritrea that consistently called for an immediate cease-fire. The recommendation also stated "the armed forces presently in Badme Town and its environs, should be redeployed to the positions they held before 6 May 1998..."...

Dr. Amare underlines Ethiopia's violation of Eritrea's sovereignty, basic human rights of its nationals

At the OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa held in Mauritius, Dr. Amare Tekle underlined the Ethiopian regime's violation of Eritrea's national sovereignty.
He exposed the series of acts of aggression committed by the Ethiopian regime in violation of international law. Dr. Amare also informed delegates of Addis Ababa's gross violation of the human rights of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin residing in Ethiopia, including the expulsion of more than 56,000 people...

Somali faction leaders accuse TPLF regime of aggression

Leaders of the main Somali faction leaders, Ali Mahdi Mohammed and Hussein Aideed, have filed protests with the UN Security Council and the OAU accusing the TPLF regime of committing aggression against Somali.
A recent report by the BBC indicated that TPLF forces backed with heavy artillery invaded Bula Hawo and Dolo townships, dismantled the local civilian administration and replaced it with their own. The forces of occupation also arrested 36 people, including a former Somali army general and ex-commissioner of Dolo town.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Somalia National Front, General Omar Haj Massaleh, called on the aggressors to immediately withdraw their forces from Somali territory. He also demanded of the TPLF regime the release of all Somali nationals it had arbitrarily put under arrest.

Woyane regime's lies and fabrications Vs. realities

By Abu - Baker Mohammed ( Part I)
The Woyane regime since its declaration of total war on Eritrea has been repeating lies and fabrications to mislead the Ethiopian people as well as the international public opinion. Those lies have been baseless allegations made by the senior figures and leaders of the TPLF - with the purpose of covering up their gross violations against Eritrea , people and land...

A tragic and senseless war

by Tewelde Stephanos
ALL WARS ARE STUPID, but the current conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea takes absurdity to new levels.
While the conflict is widely reported to be a border dispute, recent events make it clear that Ethiopia is after the sovereignty of Eritrea. As the Americans try to broker an end to the conflict, they should beware of the ironies and confusions that abound -and which, despite their ridiculousness, are resulting in deadly tragedy.
The supposed impetus for the war is an "ill-defined border." But that border is not at all ill-defined: It lies between two rivers and has been marked by a straight line for almost 100 years.
Ethiopia obliterated this straight line in a 1997 map, which was first published in a newspaper controlled by its government. It started implementing the false map in mid-1997 by occupying pockets of Eritrean territory...

Open letter to the leadership Ethiopian Government Addis Ababa

We would like to first assure you that this open letter is being written by us with the of intentions and with our deep desire for peace for the people of Eritrea, with the certainty that this desire for peace is also shared by your Ethiopian compatriots.
You may have heard that Eritreans of all walks of life living abroad have marched for peace and are trying to make their voices heard to obtain this precious and noble goal. We hope Ethiopians will do likewise.
Such a call is also being voiced unanimously by your soldiers in Eritrean hands, and many peace-loving people around the world. It is ironic, however, that the call for peace is coming only from the Eritrean side, while form your side all we have been hearing and continue to hear are the words of war, death and destruction...

Reality presented as drama

Ever since the TPLF regime launched a second round large-scale attack against Eritrea on the Alitiena-Mereb and the Mereb-Setit fronts, its army has suffered heavy human and material losses. Corpses of dead Ethiopian soldiers and tens of their destroyed tanks and other armour have already been on screens by major world broadcasting agencies, despite Ethiopian government's denial that a warhad taken place and in an act of self-cheating claiming that it was Eritrea's drama.
Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, has many development problems to tackle. Millions of its citizens have always been facing severe food shortages. It is, therefore, one of the major food-aid and grant recipient countries in the world. Many deadly diseases are killing thousands of Ethiopians every year. In the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, an example for the word famine is given by Ethiopia. This would not be again a fictitious drama for the Dictionary has it. There is no doubt that, any Ethiopian, upon seeing this example in the Dictionary, would be humiliated. But humiliated by whom? By drought? Ethiopia has, of course, several rivers and streams many of which flow all seasons. By the infertility of Ethiopia's soil? Apart from some barren lands in the northern and eastern part of the country, Ethiopia has suitable weather and soil to grow wide-ranging crops, vegetables and fruits. By lack of human power? As recent as eight months ago, Ethiopian officials have told the world that they have sixty million people. But the present authorities in Addis Ababa were mentioning this figure not to irrigate the land and make Ethiopia a basket of bread so as to detach the name Ethiopia from the word famine, but to realize the narrow interest of their clique through bloody war with Eritrea...

Delegation leaves for Windhoek

A delegation headed by Woizero Askalu Menkerios, Minister of Labour and Human Welfare, yesterday left for Windhoek, Namibia, to attend the 22nd session of the OAU Commission of Labour and Social Affairs.
In the course of their deliberations April 19-24, delegates will discuss the employment strategy and poverty amelioration, employer-employee relations, the situation of trade union movements in Africa and related topics.
Besides, the conference will hear a report on the rights of African children and measures to promote their welfare.

...

Playing with Fire

by Paulos Natnael (for Visafric)
In the past few days, Ethiopian newspapers have carried commentaries, articles implicitly inciting violence against Eritreans. By falsely claiming Ethiopians in Eritrea are being persecuted, the Ethiopian media are trying to incite physical violence against the remaining Eritreans in Ethiopia.
This dangerous trend comes in the heels of the ludicrous charges of "supreme race mentality of the Eritreans" by high-level Ethiopian officials. What the Ethiopian media are doing is not only irresponsible journalism, but is extremely dangerous. The Ethiopian media are literally playing with fire....

Urgent call for action to peacefully resolve border conflict

The African Association of Education for Development has made an urgent call to all concerned governments, regional and international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, religious leaders and institutions and all committed to peace and the well-being of people to do all they can to help bring about a peaceful and just settlement of the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
The call was made by a representative of the Association while addressing the current 55th Session in Geneva of the Commission on human rights...

Eritreans residing in Boston, environs raise US$ 1.1 M. in contributions

Eritreans residing in Boston City, USA, and its environs have raised 1.1 million US dollars in contributions for national development and defence. At a meeting held on 10 April 1999, the participants bought Eritrean government-sponsored bonds with an initial amount of USD 5,000 each. Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs at the PFDJ, briefed participants of the meeting on the objective situation in Eritrea. Meanwhile, Mr. Semere Russom, Eritrea's Ambassador to the US, gave similar briefings to about 100 Eritreans residing in the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh in the State of North Carolina.

Public Health and the environment

Part I
The Government of Eritrea has adopted a policy on health based on the World Health Organization's (WHO's) principles of primary health care (PHC). WHO describes health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". In 1978 the International Conference on Primary Health Care held in Alma-Ata, declared that PHC is the key for achieving the target of health for all by the year 2000 (HFA/2000). The Alma-Ata conference identified eight essential health program elements including the provisions of an "adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation". The Government of Eritrea will exert efforts to this program element into effect...

Flue of the mind

by Dr. Fetsumberhan Gebrenegus
Flue is one of the commonest infections in the world caused by influenza virus. It is not very far from truth if we say that there is no one in the world who has not at least been affected by the virus. In fact all of us have contracted the virus several times.
The repeated infection is accounted for by the fast changing behavior of the virus due to its capacity to change some of its structures I like to mention about a situation of our mind from which none of us can be immune from like the flue (influenza infection). The situation is not caused by a virus but by all factors that affect our feelings and general mood states.
Depression, which is a form of mood disorder with different levels of severity is, what is quoted as "flue of the mind". Depression has been recognized and documented as a common problem of more than 3,000 years. It is well documented that depression affects individuals of all ages including infancy...

For Eritrea

You are my hope, my expectation for a better life.
You are waiting for me there, far from the country
Time will come when we shall walk the two of us together like everlasting friends.

You have just proved your value like a child sure of its capabilities.
You hoped to enjoy peace but unexpected
surprises are awaiting for you.
Just a little effort, and your revenge shall
be fulfilled.
The day of peace is not far, it will just grab you.

You are just like a guitar of
antiquity where sometimes they
have come to degrade the sound.
We, who are here, let us be
patient since our hopes for you
are al ready declared.
We will precipitate to enter your
ancient strings.

My life is sad without you, but I am still
optimistic.
Your far away souvenir will not fade
away, waiting patiently to be cradled by your prsence.
Almaz Yohannes
France.

Eritrean economy maintains development momentum

The Eritrean economy is well and growing. However, recently, there have been a few articles in the Western electronic mass media that presented mistaken views and conclusions about the performance and growth prospects of the Eritrean economy. The facts presented below should put the Eritrean economy's performance and future prospects in proper perspective.
Those who followed Eritrea's long struggle for independence know that, at liberation in 1991, Eritrea inherited a war-ravaged economy in ruins, with a devastated infrastructure, weak and corrupt institutions, defunct factor and product markets, and undeveloped and technologically backward productive sectors. As such, Eritrea's economic development efforts had to start from scratch with meager domestic resources and little or no external assistance...

President outlines outcome of conference of Sahelo-Saharan states

President Isaias Afwerki has said that the recent conference of the Association of Sahelo-Saharan states had adopted the operational statutes at the recent conference held in Libya April 14-15, 1999.
The President also explained that in the course of the conference, he held a meeting with President Oamar Al-Beshir of the Sudan upon the initiative of President Muammar Khadafi of Libya with a view to normalizing Eritrean-Sudanese relations. President Isaias said that representatives of the Libyan and Qatari governments will hold a meeting with the foreign ministers of Eritrea and Sudan in continuation of the initiative taken by the Government of Qatar earlier. The President further indicated that the problem in the Great Lakes region was discussed by the leaders of Eritrea, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad in line upon the initiative of the Libyan Head of State...

Fostering economic and trade cooperation

(Highlights of President Isaias's interview with ERINA reporer on outcome of recent Sahelo-Saharan conference)
On Eritrean participation:
The Sahelo-Saharan Association was founded a year ago and since then it has been paving the way for beginning its operations. Last year, we were invited to participate as an observer. Then we expressed our readiness to be member of the Association. Now we are members of the eight-nation body...

Eritrea Calls for Respect of International Law

As the UN special envoy, Ambassador Sahnun, prepares to return to the region in pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the regime in Addis Ababa is issuing a flurry of statements on the need to "reward aggression". The TPLF regime attempts to portray itself as a "victim of Eritrean aggression" through the distortion of facts and omission of crucial events. It argues that the border conflict has its origins in early May of 1998 when "Eritrea suddenly attacked Ethiopia" in the Badme region; (even then the date is sometimes May 6 and at other times May 12)...

Mr. Andemichael delivers President's message to Zimbabwean leader

Mr. Andemichael Kahsai, Head of Europe and North America Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on April 17 delivered a special message from President Isaias Afwerki to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
The message concerns the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. President Mugabe is member of the OAU High-Level Delegation entrusted with the responsibility of promoting a peaceful settlement of the border conflict. While receiving Mr. Andemichael, the Zimbabwean leader called for immediate implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement.

OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights concludes adopting declaration, plan of action

The First OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights, which was held in Grand Bay, Mauritius, 12-16 April 1999, has concluded its deliberations with the adoption of a declaration and plan of action.
Delegates to the Conference stressed that the observance of human rights is a key tool for promoting collective security, durable peace and sustained development in Africa. They also emphasized that the promotion and protection of human rights is a matter of priority for the continent...

The MLLT regime: wrapped in a shawl of blunders

by Aklilu Serekeberhan

The invasion of Eritrean territory in July 1997 in Bada region was the starting point of a series of blunders the MLLT clique was to commit in the coming months. To add insult to injury, it subsequently issued unilaterally a new map in October 1997 that redrew Eritrea's international boundaries. The attack on Eritrean units in the Badme area on 6 May 1998 that triggered the current conflict marked the climax of brinkmanship. The launching of the first air attack on Eritrea's capital on June 5, 1998, which the Addis Ababa government claimed was in retaliation to Eritrean bombing of Mekele, was one later twisted and became "a preemptive attack to avert suspected Eritrean attack". What about the cruel deportation of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin en masse and without due process of law, even octogenarians and small kids, while still illegally holding 1,500 others in detention in Blaten and other concentration camps? Eritreans in Ethiopia are being witch-hunted and the whereabouts of over 1,000 is still unknown...

Ethiopia's pattern of aggression

by Binyam Solomon (Dehai)
It is a fact that East Africa's, for that matter the whole of Africa's, borders have been a cause of several wars. It is also a fact that Eritrea by virtue of being the newest in a war-prone region has been bullied by hostile neighboring countries. As a result it has had its fair share of problems.
But Ethiopia's accusations are that "During the Eritrean regime's five years in office, it has made a habit of aggressive behavior, having invaded four of its five neighbors." (Is Eritrea Committed to Peace? February 22, 1999 FDRE Office of the Government Spokesperson). Does Ethiopia's claim have any validity or is it another case of a thief crying thief at the top of his lungs? Let's look at Eritrea's record as compared to Ethiopia's since Eritrea's independence...

Woyane regime's lies and fabrications Vs. realities

By Abu - Baker Mohammed ( Part II)
The allegation that Eritrea seeks to exploit Ethiopian economy

Mr. Abai Tsehaye alleged in an interview with the Woyane radio when he was asked about the Eritrean economic policy: "There is no clear-cut Eritrean economic policy. The Eritreans are alluding directly or indirectly that Eritrea's resources and wealth are for the Eritreans alone and those of Ethiopia are for the Eritreans and Ethiopians together. And accordingly, they are calling for opening up of all economic fields for them to exploit Ethiopia's resources and dominate its markets. They are encouraging smuggling operations with the aim of destroying Ethiopian economy"...

The Breakup of Families and the Plight of Children during the Deportation of Ethnic Eritreans from Ethiopia

by Prof. Asmarom Legesse On behalf of Citizens for Peace in Eritrea
Report submitted to ICRC, Geneva, 20 April 1999
There is a human rights crisis in the Horn of Africa resulting from the on going war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Our presentation concerns the mass deportation of ethnic Eritreans form Ethiopia. All our data are primary, gathered directly from the victims of war. Our published report is titled "The Uprooted"...

Text of Dr. Amare Tekle's statement at OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa

It is a source of great satisfaction to us that the OAU has succeeded in convening this Conference with the view to taking concrete measures to overcome the baneful effects of human rights violations in Africa. It is for this reason that the Eritrean delegation recognizes the Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action which is before us for adoption as a significant milepost in Africa's collective effort to eradicate the violation of human rights identifying and attacking their root causes and to thereby creating a kinder, gentler world.

We hope the US Ambassador was misquoted

by Citizens for Peace in Eritrea (CPE )
In an interview with Ethiopia's Walt Information Centre. US Ambassador David Shinn listed two options to end the Ethio-Eritrean conflict. He said "One solution would be [for Eritrea] to remove its forces from those remaining territories that are currently OCCUPIED by Eritrea Another way in a far less desirable way is to continue the military conflict For the moment I am not sure there are any other solutions than those two"...

Ambassador Shinn, is the OAU proposal still an option?

by Kebire A. Ahmed (for Visafric)
A careful reading "between the lines" of the April 1999 interview the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, David Shinn gave with Walta Information Center reveals that Ethiopia initiated the February attacks against Eritrea and that the ambassador knew in advance of the attacks.
Here is what David Shinn stated when asked about his views on the current crisis: "...They [Ethiopian Leaders] have been patient enough for 9 months and didn't see a peaceful resolution as very likely and therefore decided that other measures were necessary in order to resolve the problem. "This is a clear indication that the Ambassador must have known in advance of the February Ethiopian attacks on Eritrea. This is the same attack that Ethiopia claimed Eritrea initiated. Again, when asked the obstacle for the peaceful conclusion, the Ambassador stated, "...I think the government of Ethiopia concluded that there was nothing to be achieved peacefully at that point. That is back in February this year." From this statement, again, it is transparent that he was informed of Ethiopia's next adventures. It is also apparent, contrary to Ethiopia's claims, that Ethiopia initiated the new wave of attacks...

For Ethiopia every Eritrean is a "military target", fair game in its war against Eritrea

by: Yoftahe Musa and Menbere G/Michael (Reporting from Adi Keyih for Visafric)
Four-year old Meles Tesfai was asleep in his family home when a shrapnel flew into his bedroom, grazing the top of his head. Fourteen-year old Lucia Hadgu was a bit late and walking briskly to school, when a shrapnel pounded her in the upper arm. She is being treated at Adi Keyih hospital. She is still in visible pain and too weak to speak. Her sister, Freweini, sits on her bed and recounts her story.
Meles and Lucia are among the 11 civilians injured in Ethiopia's latest bombing of civilian targets in Eritrea. The Ethiopian bombing also destroyed a church.
All the injured civilians are from Adi Keyih, Eritrea's seventh largest town with a population of about 17,000. The Ethiopian government announced officially on the same day, April 15th, 1999, that their air mission into this town had successfully targeted and hit military positions. The fact is there is not a single military site within miles of where the bombs landed...

EWDFA-sponsored social services inaugurated in Himbirti

Bakeries and small-scale restaurants and a shop sponsored by the Eritrean War Disabled Fighters Association (EWDFA) have begun rendering services to members of the public in Himbirti, Zoba Maakel.
The Association incurred an expenditure of one million nakfa to put these social services in place.
In an inaugural speech at the locality on 19 April 1999, Mr. Teklai Kidane, Chairman of EWDFA, said that the Association strives to help members to overcome dependency and thus become self-supporting. Mr. Teklai noted that the newly inaugurated service-rendering centres are part of the aforementioned objectives of the EWDFA. The Association takes care of 3,500 war disabled fighters.

Aiming at improved social services

Two elementary schools and a health centre built at a total cost of 2.2 million nakfa were recently inaugurated in Hamelmalo sub-region of Zoba Anseba.
The new facilities are expected to partially overcome shortages of adequate educational and health services in the locality.
The new health centre will provide services to about 8 thousand people who, in the past, had to travel 20 km in search of health services in Keren town.

More graduate from School for the Blind upon completion of training course

Another group of 15 trainees graduated recently from Abraham Bahta School for the Blind in Asmara upon completion of a six-month course in poultry, weaving and music.
In the past, 45 blind persons completed a similar course.
The Chairman of the National Association of the Blind, Mr. Dawit Fissehaye, said that the training thus offered is in line with the Government's program of assisting the disabled to become self-supporting.
Woizero Hiwet Zemichael, director of Social Affairs at the Ministry of Labour and Human, Welfare, awarded certificates to the latest group of trainees at a ceremony held within the premises of the Abraham Bahta School of the Blind

President Isaias leaves for Qatar

President Isaias Afwerki yesterday left for Doha on a visit to Qatar at the invitation of His Royal Highness Sheikh Hammad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Pince of the State of Qatar.
The President will hold talks with the Qatari Head of State on the consolidations of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. President Isaias is accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ali Seid Abdalla. He was seen off by Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo, Minister of Local Government, and other ministers.

Delegations expose Ethiopia's contravention of ILO norms, violation of human rights

Eritrean government delegations that took part in the deliberations of the Conference of both the OAU Commission on Labour and Social Affairs in Windhoek, Namibia, and the African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers have exposed Ethiopia's contravention of the accepted norms of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for grossly abusing the rights of tens of thousands of Eritrean workers and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin who had worked for years in Ethiopia as well as of mothers and children by subjecting them to mass expulsion and other inhumane treatment...

Insulting Intelligence: Habit of Image-Maker

By Aradom Iyob
In its present war with Ethiopia, Eritrea is facing a repeat of a historic challenge. Once again, Eritrea finds itself in a difficult but necessary position of having to combat Ethiopias's aggressive efforts on the military, diplomatic and public relations fronts. The heavy Ethiopian casualties in Badme late in February as well as Tsorona in mid-March this year demonstrate that Eritrea's military performance, thus far, has successfully contained Ethiopian efforts. On March 17 Marek NCN News Briefs stated:
NCN has been told by a highly reliable Washington source that the reports that Ethiopia lost perhaps as many as 10,000 soldiers in the last major battle, dubbed "Operation Sunset" by the Ethiopians, that occurred on February 23-26. Ethiopia claimed total victory in that battle, and there was massive jubilation in the streets of Addis Ababa. What Ethiopians have not been told is the enormous toll on their forces. In that battle, Eritrea said 9,000 Ethiopian soldiers were lost as they launched old-time Chines-style human waves assaults against Eritrea's heavily fortified defensive emplacements.
NCN has now been informed that the Eritrean estimate is accurate. With respect to the equally intense battle at the Tsorona front on March 13-16, Eritrea claimed that more than 10,000 Ethiopian troops were killed. In its March 18 piece titled Eritrea Displays Enemy War Dead "Drama Staged," Ethiopia Claims, The New York Times corroborates, "Foreign diplomats in both nations said they generally believed Eritrea's version of the battles."...

CPE representatives conduct seminars in Germany

Prof. Asmerom Legesse and Mr. Petros Tesfagiorgis conducted seminars in Germany representing "Citizens for Peace in Eritrea".
They briefed Eritreans residing in the cities of Stuttgart and Frankfurt on the inhumane treatment the TPLF regime meted out to Eritrean civilians. More that 1,000 Eritrean nationals took part in the seminars.
Prof. Asmerom and Mr. Petros stressed the need to mount further campaign to expose the atrocities being committed by the Addis Ababa authorities, including the separation of families and confisication of the property of all those victimized.

US again calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritro-Ethiopian conflict

The US Government has again called for an immediate cease-fire in the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. A spokesman of the State Department in Washington said April 16, 1999 that "the US does not support any preconditions for an immediate cease-fire."
A statement issued by the US State Department addressed to its diplomats accredited to African countries follows:...

Is Ethiopia interested in peace?

The government in Addis Ababa is, once again, reading from a new script and putting forth new preconditions with the apparent aim of blocking the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. The TPLF regime insists that Eritrea "needs to officially declare that it will withdraw its troops from all Ethiopian land and agree to set a short timeframe ... only when the Eritrean authorities agree to these requirements can a cease-fire take place."...

Eritrea re-affirms commitment, readiness to implementation of OAU Framework Agreement

President Isaias Afwerki met Ambassador Mohammed Sahnoun, special envoy of UN Secretary General on 26 April 1999. Ambasador Sahnoun delivered a message from Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan, to President Isaias. Earlier in the day, Ambassador Sahnoun met with Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae leading the Eritrean delegation that is mandated to deal with the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia...

A little perspective, please!

by John Rude
Journalists almost outnumber refugees at the Kosovo border. Over the past year, when 2,000 Serbian-sponsored murders allegedly occurred, newsmen belatedly woke up to "genocide". Since NATO bombing began last month, hundreds of journalists have swarmed over the victims looking for evidence of massacres, lost relatives, people shivering in the rain, sound-bites of crying tots. "Anyone speaking English who was raped?" cried out the frantic story-sellers at the refugee camps.
Meanwhile, over a single week-end of March 15-16, 10,000 Ethiopians died in battle, un-noticed by the media. Was it racism that caused this-the world's largest war involving 400,000 combatants-to slip off the radar screen? Or was it hysteria over the very idea of European genocide, with scenes reminiscent of Dachau and Buchenwald haunting our selective memories? Could it simply be abysmal ignorance that forces the locusts to seek out the most photogenic and accessible conflicts, letting all others disappear into the mist?...

African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers: Maputo Draft Declaration

Participants in the African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 19-22 April 1999:
1.Solemenly declare that the use of any child under 18 years of age by any armed force or armed group is wholly unacceptable, even where that child claims or is claimed to be a volunteer.
2.Call upon all African states to promote an environment that favours the safe and healthy development of children and to take all necessary measure to ensure that no child under 18 years of age takes part in armed conflict, in particular by:
-ending the recruitment of all children under 18 years of age into the armed forces and ensuring that measures are in place to prevent re-recruitment;
-establishing through recruitment procedures in particular for determining age...

President sheds light on topical issues

President Isaias Afwerki recently made an interview with the National Television regarding the current situation in Eritrea and new developments in this region. Highlights follow:-
Is Eritrea joining the Sahelo-Sahara Group as an alternative to IGAD?
We joined the Sahelo-Sahara Group not as an alternative to IGAD. In the first place, membership in one regional group does not , as a general rule, preclude membership in another regional group.
Once the Somali problem is solved, all the goals that IGAD had set for itself maybe achieved, but time is needed to achieve one's goal and patience is a must....

Reuters fumbles again

In a report on the state of the Eritrean Economy (April 12, 1999) attributed to Alex Last, Reuters news agency not only misquoted Eritrean officials on facts about this topic but also made false inferences. In so doing, the news agency, besides abusing and misusing economic statistics, resorted to cheap journalism. This report by Reuters is indeed replete with innuendoes and inept interpretation of statistics.
The following are the relevant facts about the Eritrean Economy:-
1. Obviously, the reported GDP growth rate of 4% (1998) is not as spectacular as 8 percent (1997). It is, however, a relatively respectable rate that not too many countries enjoyed in the same year. The fact that the period 1992-1998 recorded a formidable average growth rate of 7% should not diminish the significance of 4 percent in real growth. It is worth noting that, according to the United Nations, Sub-Saharan countries recorded on the average only 2.4 percent growth in 1998. Without even minimum diligence, Reuters describes an economy that recorded a 4 percent growth rate (1998) as 'strangled" and dealt with a "heavy blow". This is simply a sham....

Minister Sherifo delivers President's message to Yemeni leader

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo, Minister of Local Government, recently delivered a message from President Isaias Afwerki to President Ali Abdalla Saleh of Yemen. The message concerns the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. Mr. Sherifo once again explained to the Yemeni leader Eritrea's commitment to peacefully resolve the crisis...

Eritreans in California raise USD 3.2 million

Eritreans residing in California, USA, have raised 3.2 million US dollars in support of national development and defence programs.
They raised this amount of money through buying government-sponsored bonds during their meeting in the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland. These Eritrean nationals plan to raise the amount to USD 9 million.
Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs at the PFDJ, gave briefings to participants of the series of meetings.

Rothmans of Pall Mall - Eritrea registers production growth

Rothmans of Pall Mall - Eritrea has registered production growth. This is the plant that is operating as a private enterprise following the transfer of the formerly state-owned Gash Cigarettes Factory into private entrepreneur.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, who has just made an inspection tour of the present enterprise, was informed that its owners have introduced new equipment that enabled it to raise production....

President Isaias leaves for Qatar

President Isaias Afwerki yesterday left for Doha on a visit to Qatar at the invitation of His Royal Highness Sheikh Hammad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Pince of the State of Qatar.
The President will hold talks with the Qatari Head of State on the consolidations of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. President Isaias is accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ali Seid Abdalla. He was seen off by Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo, Minister of Local Government, and other ministers.

Delegations expose Ethiopia's contravention of ILO norms, violation of human rights

Eritrean government delegations that took part in the deliberations of the Conference of both the OAU Commission on Labour and Social Affairs in Windhoek, Namibia, and the African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers have exposed Ethiopia's contravention of the accepted norms of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for grossly abusing the rights of tens of thousands of Eritrean workers and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin who had worked for years in Ethiopia as well as of mothers and children by subjecting them to mass expulsion and other inhumane treatment...

Insulting Intelligence: Habit of Image-Maker

By Aradom Iyob
In its present war with Ethiopia, Eritrea is facing a repeat of a historic challenge. Once again, Eritrea finds itself in a difficult but necessary position of having to combat Ethiopias's aggressive efforts on the military, diplomatic and public relations fronts. The heavy Ethiopian casualties in Badme late in February as well as Tsorona in mid-March this year demonstrate that Eritrea's military performance, thus far, has successfully contained Ethiopian efforts. On March 17 Marek NCN News Briefs stated:
NCN has been told by a highly reliable Washington source that the reports that Ethiopia lost perhaps as many as 10,000 soldiers in the last major battle, dubbed "Operation Sunset" by the Ethiopians, that occurred on February 23-26. Ethiopia claimed total victory in that battle, and there was massive jubilation in the streets of Addis Ababa. What Ethiopians have not been told is the enormous toll on their forces. In that battle, Eritrea said 9,000 Ethiopian soldiers were lost as they launched old-time Chines-style human waves assaults against Eritrea's heavily fortified defensive emplacements.
NCN has now been informed that the Eritrean estimate is accurate. With respect to the equally intense battle at the Tsorona front on March 13-16, Eritrea claimed that more than 10,000 Ethiopian troops were killed. In its March 18 piece titled Eritrea Displays Enemy War Dead "Drama Staged," Ethiopia Claims, The New York Times corroborates, "Foreign diplomats in both nations said they generally believed Eritrea's version of the battles."...

CPE representatives conduct seminars in Germany

Prof. Asmerom Legesse and Mr. Petros Tesfagiorgis conducted seminars in Germany representing "Citizens for Peace in Eritrea".
They briefed Eritreans residing in the cities of Stuttgart and Frankfurt on the inhumane treatment the TPLF regime meted out to Eritrean civilians. More that 1,000 Eritrean nationals took part in the seminars.
Prof. Asmerom and Mr. Petros stressed the need to mount further campaign to expose the atrocities being committed by the Addis Ababa authorities, including the separation of families and confisication of the property of all those victimized.

US again calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritro-Ethiopian conflict

The US Government has again called for an immediate cease-fire in the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. A spokesman of the State Department in Washington said April 16, 1999 that "the US does not support any preconditions for an immediate cease-fire."
A statement issued by the US State Department addressed to its diplomats accredited to African countries follows:...

Is Ethiopia interested in peace?

The government in Addis Ababa is, once again, reading from a new script and putting forth new preconditions with the apparent aim of blocking the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. The TPLF regime insists that Eritrea "needs to officially declare that it will withdraw its troops from all Ethiopian land and agree to set a short timeframe ... only when the Eritrean authorities agree to these requirements can a cease-fire take place."...

Eritrea re-affirms commitment, readiness to implementation of OAU Framework Agreement

President Isaias Afwerki met Ambassador Mohammed Sahnoun, special envoy of UN Secretary General on 26 April 1999. Ambasador Sahnoun delivered a message from Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan, to President Isaias. Earlier in the day, Ambassador Sahnoun met with Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae leading the Eritrean delegation that is mandated to deal with the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia...

A little perspective, please!

by John Rude
Journalists almost outnumber refugees at the Kosovo border. Over the past year, when 2,000 Serbian-sponsored murders allegedly occurred, newsmen belatedly woke up to "genocide". Since NATO bombing began last month, hundreds of journalists have swarmed over the victims looking for evidence of massacres, lost relatives, people shivering in the rain, sound-bites of crying tots. "Anyone speaking English who was raped?" cried out the frantic story-sellers at the refugee camps.
Meanwhile, over a single week-end of March 15-16, 10,000 Ethiopians died in battle, un-noticed by the media. Was it racism that caused this-the world's largest war involving 400,000 combatants-to slip off the radar screen? Or was it hysteria over the very idea of European genocide, with scenes reminiscent of Dachau and Buchenwald haunting our selective memories? Could it simply be abysmal ignorance that forces the locusts to seek out the most photogenic and accessible conflicts, letting all others disappear into the mist?...

African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers: Maputo Draft Declaration

Participants in the African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 19-22 April 1999:
1.Solemenly declare that the use of any child under 18 years of age by any armed force or armed group is wholly unacceptable, even where that child claims or is claimed to be a volunteer.
2.Call upon all African states to promote an environment that favours the safe and healthy development of children and to take all necessary measure to ensure that no child under 18 years of age takes part in armed conflict, in particular by:
-ending the recruitment of all children under 18 years of age into the armed forces and ensuring that measures are in place to prevent re-recruitment;
-establishing through recruitment procedures in particular for determining age...

President sheds light on topical issues

President Isaias Afwerki recently made an interview with the National Television regarding the current situation in Eritrea and new developments in this region. Highlights follow:-
Is Eritrea joining the Sahelo-Sahara Group as an alternative to IGAD?
We joined the Sahelo-Sahara Group not as an alternative to IGAD. In the first place, membership in one regional group does not , as a general rule, preclude membership in another regional group.
Once the Somali problem is solved, all the goals that IGAD had set for itself maybe achieved, but time is needed to achieve one's goal and patience is a must....

Reuters fumbles again

In a report on the state of the Eritrean Economy (April 12, 1999) attributed to Alex Last, Reuters news agency not only misquoted Eritrean officials on facts about this topic but also made false inferences. In so doing, the news agency, besides abusing and misusing economic statistics, resorted to cheap journalism. This report by Reuters is indeed replete with innuendoes and inept interpretation of statistics.
The following are the relevant facts about the Eritrean Economy:-
1. Obviously, the reported GDP growth rate of 4% (1998) is not as spectacular as 8 percent (1997). It is, however, a relatively respectable rate that not too many countries enjoyed in the same year. The fact that the period 1992-1998 recorded a formidable average growth rate of 7% should not diminish the significance of 4 percent in real growth. It is worth noting that, according to the United Nations, Sub-Saharan countries recorded on the average only 2.4 percent growth in 1998. Without even minimum diligence, Reuters describes an economy that recorded a 4 percent growth rate (1998) as 'strangled" and dealt with a "heavy blow". This is simply a sham....

Minister Sherifo delivers President's message to Yemeni leader

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo, Minister of Local Government, recently delivered a message from President Isaias Afwerki to President Ali Abdalla Saleh of Yemen. The message concerns the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. Mr. Sherifo once again explained to the Yemeni leader Eritrea's commitment to peacefully resolve the crisis...

Eritreans in California raise USD 3.2 million

Eritreans residing in California, USA, have raised 3.2 million US dollars in support of national development and defence programs.
They raised this amount of money through buying government-sponsored bonds during their meeting in the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland. These Eritrean nationals plan to raise the amount to USD 9 million.
Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs at the PFDJ, gave briefings to participants of the series of meetings.

Rothmans of Pall Mall - Eritrea registers production growth

Rothmans of Pall Mall - Eritrea has registered production growth. This is the plant that is operating as a private enterprise following the transfer of the formerly state-owned Gash Cigarettes Factory into private entrepreneur.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, who has just made an inspection tour of the present enterprise, was informed that its owners have introduced new equipment that enabled it to raise production....

More News
  Eritrea, Sudan agree to normalize relations
  Presidents Isaias, Omar Al-Beshir exchange views through telephone
  Eritrea, Qatar to foster closer cooperation in trade and investment
  The agreement reached with Sudan is not tactical: President Isaias
  The reality behind the stories about the Eritrean Economy
  PFDJ delegation in Libya on working visit
  TPLF regime's baseless allegations
  Italy lauds move to normalize Eritro-Sudanese ties
  OAU calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict
  Officials deliver President's messages
  Mahdi, Tourabi hold talks
  Eritrea's achievement in health sector is exemplary, says WHO Country Representative
  Public Health and the environment
  Mary Robinson on the dimensions of Human Rights
  Eritrean workers reaffirm determination to enhance devt., ensure defence of natl. sovereignty
  Eritreans in Sweden, Canada reaffirm resolve to strengthen nation's development, defence capacity
  Media: Information or war machinery?
  Mother Africa

Eritrea, Qatar to foster closer cooperation in trade and investment

Eritrea and Qatar have agreed to foster closer cooperation in the fields of trade and investment. An agreement to this effect was concluded following talks in Doha between President Isaias Afwerki and His Royal Highness Sheikh Hammad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar. The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of joint committees to follow up the implementation of the agreements concluded between the two countries.
The high-level talks on May 1, 1999, which were held in the course of the President's recent official visit to Qatar, were attended by Mr. Ali Seid Abdalla, Minister of Trade and Industry, and other officials on the Eritrean side, and the Qatari Crown Prince, Sheikh Kassim Ben Hammad Al-Thani and other senior officials on the Qatari side...

Italy lauds move to normalize Eritro-Sudanese ties

The Government of Italy has lauded the agreement reached by the leaders of Eritrea and Sudan to normalize relations between the two countries.
The Italian Embassy in Asmara said that Deputy Foreign Minister Rino Serri had expressed the Italian government's satisfaction with the Eritrean-Sudanese accord reached in Doha, Qatar. Mr. Rino Serri was quoted by the Embassy as having reiterated Italy's support to the policy of dialogue and mutual cooperation among IGAD member states. The Italian official was additionally quoted as having expressed his hope that such a policy would contribute towards reinforcing the OAU Framework Agreement on peacefully resolving the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict.

OAU calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict

The Organization of African Unity (OAU) has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia to enable the continental body to implement plans to solve the border dispute, a spokesman said Monday.
"The two countries should put an immediate end to the fighting to implement the Framework Agreement proposed by the OAU," said Ibrahim Dagash. It was the first time the OAU has publicly called for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire in the Eritro-Ethiopian border conflict...

Officials deliver President's messages

Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Education, this week delivered messages from President Isaias Afwerki to the leaders of Luxembourg, Algeria and Tunisia respectively.
While receiving the President's message on behalf of the Luxembourg Premier from Minister Tesfai, the Foreign Minister of that European State expressed his country's support to Eritrea's policy of peacefully resolving the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. So did the newly elected President of Algeria, Mr. Bouteflika, while receiving President Isaias's message from Minister Osman Saleh. The Minister of Education also delivered the President's message to President Zien Al-Abdeen Ben Ali of Tunisia, through a senior official of the North African country, and to King Hassan of Morocco....

Eritrea's achievement in health sector is exemplary, says WHO Country Representative

(Excerpts from a TV interview with Mr. Elmi A. Duwale, WHO Country Representative)
How do you characterize the relationship between WHO and the Eritrean government in general and the Ministry of Health in particular during your stay in Eritrea?
Since my arrival in Eritrea in June 1994 and the establishment of WHO office in Eritrea, I must say with pleasure that the relationship between the Ministry of Health in particular and the Government of Eritrea in general (because we have also been collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare) has been very cordial characterized by mutual understanding of each others mandates and constraints. All exchanges we have been so far have been frank and transparent and that collaboration has led to fruitful implementation of our cooperative and collaborative programs with the Ministries of Health as well as Labour and Human Welfare...

The agreement reached with Sudan is not tactical: President Isaias

(Highlights of interview the President gave to reporters at Asmara International Airport on return home)
What was the main objective of your visit to Qatar?
At a regional level, there was the initiative that was taken by the Qatari Emir in order to normalize relations between Eritrea and Sudan. However, the major objective of the visit was to hold talks on bilateral issues. Previously, the two sides have been exchanging views on the potential and possibilities of cooperation in the fields of trade and investment. Now we have signed concrete agreements on promoting trade and investment between the two countries. Bodies that follow up the implementation of these agreements will also be formed in accordance with the agreement.
As regards the relations of Eritrea and Sudan, there was a meeting held between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Doha. There was also another initiative taken by President Khadafi of Libya at the recent Sahelo-Saharan conference. This initiative has indeed facilitated the previous initiative. During such occasions, there were aquestions that were raised unofficially. But at the meeting held at Surt, Libya, we reached a general understanding to take concrete measures through the foreign ministries of the two countries where Libya and Qatar would be partners. The Qatari Emir then raised a question to facilitate this process. We expressed our readiness. The Qatari Emir subsequentely invited President Omar Al-Beshir and as a result we met and reached at an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries...

TPLF regime's baseless allegations

In a statement asserting that the TPLF's violations are not replicated in Eritrea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30 April 1999 dismissed as baseless continued inflammatory statements on the part of the TPLF regime about the state of Ethiopian citizens in Eritrea.
The Ministry referred to the TPLF regime's allegations that the Ethiopian citizens in this country are "randomly beaten on the street and in their homes". The regime further contends that "hundreds of Ethiopians have been detained in prisons and the whereabouts of most of them are unknown."...

Mary Robinson on the dimensions of Human Rights

Ms. Mary Robinson, UN Commissioner for Human Rights, who is former President of the Republic of Ireland, was once interviewed by the UNDP magazine on human development about her views on the different dimensions of human rights. Excerpts of the interview follow:-
Question: Market-led visions of human rights have tended towards Victor Hugo's view that the rich and the poor have an equal right to sleep under the bridge of the Seine. Against this there have been attempts to assert that economic and social rights are more important than civil and political rights. Can the "right to development" balance these extremes?
Answer: Since I took up this office a year ago, I've found it important to apply a consistently balanced approach - to say the same thing to each of the regional groups and to maintain the interdependence and indivisibility of rights. I'm strong on civil and political rights, and I'm determined to be strong on economic, cultural and social rights, and by that route to arrive at the achievement of what we call the right to development, which is a synthesis of both sets of rights. We are never going to have an easy or comfortable debate on these issues, but one of the reasons I wanted to take up this responsibility is that we are not going to advance human rights in a true sense unless we do as the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights says. That represents a more balanced approach than we have seen for the last fifty years...

Public Health and the environment

The Profile recently carried an article under this heading, based on material included in the National Envirnomental Management Plan for Eritrea. This is a continuation.
By 1995, 140 impoundments and streams were surveyed for intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis in 5 Eritrean provinces. Fourty-seven impoundments were found to have snails (the intermediate hosts). However, only 5 impoundments or streams have snails infected with human cercariae. Schistosomiasis common in all zones except the southern part of Debubawi Keyih Bahri. Unfortunately, most health centres do not have yet good laboratory facilities and therefore detection and reporting of disease incidence are very low...

The reality behind the stories about the Eritrean Economy

by John Weakliam
I am learning the hard way the wily ways of the media. When a reporter for one of the wire services asked me in early April to give my comments on the economic impact of the conflict on Eritrea, I spoke openly and perhaps naively to the reporter who I know well, not expecting to be quoted without first seeing the text and assuming that more qualified government and private sources would be the main interviewees. Indeed I never gave our discussion further thought until three weeks later when I was utterly dismayed to find myself quoted extensively on negative comments I made ignoring the positive points I raised in an international news story. It is relevant to point out that the reporter concerned was equally dismayed that her bosses in Nairobi in their efforts to sell the story inserted the sensationalist headline "War Destroying Eritrean economy" and a lead sentence describing Eritrea as "verging on economic meltdown". They also inserted in her piece without consulting her some comments from Ethiopian government sources suggesting that all was well in Ethiopia...

PFDJ delegation in Libya on working visit

A delegation from the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) headed by the Front's Secretary, Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, is currently in Libya on a working visit.
The visit is being undertaken with the objective of reviewing the cooperation agreement concluded last year between the PFDJ and the Libyan Revolutionary Movement, during a visit to Eritrea by representatives of the latter. The cooperation accord concluded then covered political, economic, social and cultural fields.
The delegation headed by Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid includes Mr. Saleh Meky, Minister of Health, Mr. Abdalla Jabir, Head of Organizational Affairs at the PFDJ, Mr. Mohyedin Shengeb, Chairman of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), and Mr. Mohammed Ali Jabir, in charge of the office of external relations within the PFDJ...

Mahdi, Tourabi hold talks

Al-Saddiq Al-Mahdi, ex-Premier of Sudan, and Dr. Hassan Al-Tourabi Speaker of the National Council, held a meeting in Geneva May 1-2, during which they discussed the Sudanese crisis.
A statement issued by the Umma Party said that an open dialogue was conducted on the issues of dispute in the Sudan.
The result of the political dialogue, it said, is to reach an agenda and mechanism on the way of arriving at a Sudanese political agreement to resolve the national issues of dispute.
Extensive consultations would be conducted for taking the opinions of all the opposition factions and the Government, the statement by the Umma Party added.
It was agreed that the result and outcome of the consultations would determine the subsequent steps to be followed, it concluded.

Eritrean workers reaffirm determination to enhance devt., ensure defence of natl. sovereignty

Eritrean workers have reaffirmed their determination to continue exerting utmost efforts in order to enhance development and ensure defence of the nation's sovereignty. This was stated by Mr. Tekeste Baire, Secretary-General of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers (NCEW), while addressing a special gathering at the Asmara Expo grounds to mark this year's International Workers Day (May Day). He noted that this year's May Day events were taking place at a time when the present Ethiopian authorities are perpetrating acts of conspiracy designed to undermine Eritrea's unity and sovereignty. Mr. Tekeste stressed that Eritrean workers, as do other sections of society, are fully determined to foil the enemy conspiracy...

Eritreans in Sweden, Canada reaffirm resolve to strengthen nation's development, defence capacity

Eritreans residing in Stockholm, Sweden, have reaffirmed their desire to raise continued contributions in support of national development and defence programs. 1,500 Eritreans recently held a meeting in the Swedish capital for this purpose, during which they raised 88,000 dollars and 100,000 kroner as a result of actively participating in a bond scheme...

More News
  Eritrea, Sudan agree to normalize relations
  Presidents Isaias, Omar Al-Beshir exchange views through telephone
  Eritrea, Qatar to foster closer cooperation in trade and investment
  The agreement reached with Sudan is not tactical: President Isaias
  The reality behind the stories about the Eritrean Economy
  PFDJ delegation in Libya on working visit
  TPLF regime's baseless allegations
  Italy lauds move to normalize Eritro-Sudanese ties
  OAU calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict
  Officials deliver President's messages
  Mahdi, Tourabi hold talks
  Eritrea's achievement in health sector is exemplary, says WHO Country Representative
  Public Health and the environment
  Mary Robinson on the dimensions of Human Rights
  Eritrean workers reaffirm determination to enhance devt., ensure defence of natl. sovereignty
  Eritreans in Sweden, Canada reaffirm resolve to strengthen nation's development, defence capacity
  Media: Information or war machinery?
  Mother Africa

Eritrea, Qatar to foster closer cooperation in trade and investment

Eritrea and Qatar have agreed to foster closer cooperation in the fields of trade and investment. An agreement to this effect was concluded following talks in Doha between President Isaias Afwerki and His Royal Highness Sheikh Hammad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar. The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of joint committees to follow up the implementation of the agreements concluded between the two countries.
The high-level talks on May 1, 1999, which were held in the course of the President's recent official visit to Qatar, were attended by Mr. Ali Seid Abdalla, Minister of Trade and Industry, and other officials on the Eritrean side, and the Qatari Crown Prince, Sheikh Kassim Ben Hammad Al-Thani and other senior officials on the Qatari side...

Italy lauds move to normalize Eritro-Sudanese ties

The Government of Italy has lauded the agreement reached by the leaders of Eritrea and Sudan to normalize relations between the two countries.
The Italian Embassy in Asmara said that Deputy Foreign Minister Rino Serri had expressed the Italian government's satisfaction with the Eritrean-Sudanese accord reached in Doha, Qatar. Mr. Rino Serri was quoted by the Embassy as having reiterated Italy's support to the policy of dialogue and mutual cooperation among IGAD member states. The Italian official was additionally quoted as having expressed his hope that such a policy would contribute towards reinforcing the OAU Framework Agreement on peacefully resolving the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict.

OAU calls for immediate ceasefire in Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict

The Organization of African Unity (OAU) has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia to enable the continental body to implement plans to solve the border dispute, a spokesman said Monday.
"The two countries should put an immediate end to the fighting to implement the Framework Agreement proposed by the OAU," said Ibrahim Dagash. It was the first time the OAU has publicly called for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire in the Eritro-Ethiopian border conflict...

Officials deliver President's messages

Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Education, this week delivered messages from President Isaias Afwerki to the leaders of Luxembourg, Algeria and Tunisia respectively.
While receiving the President's message on behalf of the Luxembourg Premier from Minister Tesfai, the Foreign Minister of that European State expressed his country's support to Eritrea's policy of peacefully resolving the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. So did the newly elected President of Algeria, Mr. Bouteflika, while receiving President Isaias's message from Minister Osman Saleh. The Minister of Education also delivered the President's message to President Zien Al-Abdeen Ben Ali of Tunisia, through a senior official of the North African country, and to King Hassan of Morocco....

Eritrea's achievement in health sector is exemplary, says WHO Country Representative

(Excerpts from a TV interview with Mr. Elmi A. Duwale, WHO Country Representative)
How do you characterize the relationship between WHO and the Eritrean government in general and the Ministry of Health in particular during your stay in Eritrea?
Since my arrival in Eritrea in June 1994 and the establishment of WHO office in Eritrea, I must say with pleasure that the relationship between the Ministry of Health in particular and the Government of Eritrea in general (because we have also been collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare) has been very cordial characterized by mutual understanding of each others mandates and constraints. All exchanges we have been so far have been frank and transparent and that collaboration has led to fruitful implementation of our cooperative and collaborative programs with the Ministries of Health as well as Labour and Human Welfare...

The agreement reached with Sudan is not tactical: President Isaias

(Highlights of interview the President gave to reporters at Asmara International Airport on return home)
What was the main objective of your visit to Qatar?
At a regional level, there was the initiative that was taken by the Qatari Emir in order to normalize relations between Eritrea and Sudan. However, the major objective of the visit was to hold talks on bilateral issues. Previously, the two sides have been exchanging views on the potential and possibilities of cooperation in the fields of trade and investment. Now we have signed concrete agreements on promoting trade and investment between the two countries. Bodies that follow up the implementation of these agreements will also be formed in accordance with the agreement.
As regards the relations of Eritrea and Sudan, there was a meeting held between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Doha. There was also another initiative taken by President Khadafi of Libya at the recent Sahelo-Saharan conference. This initiative has indeed facilitated the previous initiative. During such occasions, there were aquestions that were raised unofficially. But at the meeting held at Surt, Libya, we reached a general understanding to take concrete measures through the foreign ministries of the two countries where Libya and Qatar would be partners. The Qatari Emir then raised a question to facilitate this process. We expressed our readiness. The Qatari Emir subsequentely invited President Omar Al-Beshir and as a result we met and reached at an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries...

TPLF regime's baseless allegations

In a statement asserting that the TPLF's violations are not replicated in Eritrea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30 April 1999 dismissed as baseless continued inflammatory statements on the part of the TPLF regime about the state of Ethiopian citizens in Eritrea.
The Ministry referred to the TPLF regime's allegations that the Ethiopian citizens in this country are "randomly beaten on the street and in their homes". The regime further contends that "hundreds of Ethiopians have been detained in prisons and the whereabouts of most of them are unknown."...

Mary Robinson on the dimensions of Human Rights

Ms. Mary Robinson, UN Commissioner for Human Rights, who is former President of the Republic of Ireland, was once interviewed by the UNDP magazine on human development about her views on the different dimensions of human rights. Excerpts of the interview follow:-
Question: Market-led visions of human rights have tended towards Victor Hugo's view that the rich and the poor have an equal right to sleep under the bridge of the Seine. Against this there have been attempts to assert that economic and social rights are more important than civil and political rights. Can the "right to development" balance these extremes?
Answer: Since I took up this office a year ago, I've found it important to apply a consistently balanced approach - to say the same thing to each of the regional groups and to maintain the interdependence and indivisibility of rights. I'm strong on civil and political rights, and I'm determined to be strong on economic, cultural and social rights, and by that route to arrive at the achievement of what we call the right to development, which is a synthesis of both sets of rights. We are never going to have an easy or comfortable debate on these issues, but one of the reasons I wanted to take up this responsibility is that we are not going to advance human rights in a true sense unless we do as the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights says. That represents a more balanced approach than we have seen for the last fifty years...

Public Health and the environment

The Profile recently carried an article under this heading, based on material included in the National Envirnomental Management Plan for Eritrea. This is a continuation.
By 1995, 140 impoundments and streams were surveyed for intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis in 5 Eritrean provinces. Fourty-seven impoundments were found to have snails (the intermediate hosts). However, only 5 impoundments or streams have snails infected with human cercariae. Schistosomiasis common in all zones except the southern part of Debubawi Keyih Bahri. Unfortunately, most health centres do not have yet good laboratory facilities and therefore detection and reporting of disease incidence are very low...

The reality behind the stories about the Eritrean Economy

by John Weakliam
I am learning the hard way the wily ways of the media. When a reporter for one of the wire services asked me in early April to give my comments on the economic impact of the conflict on Eritrea, I spoke openly and perhaps naively to the reporter who I know well, not expecting to be quoted without first seeing the text and assuming that more qualified government and private sources would be the main interviewees. Indeed I never gave our discussion further thought until three weeks later when I was utterly dismayed to find myself quoted extensively on negative comments I made ignoring the positive points I raised in an international news story. It is relevant to point out that the reporter concerned was equally dismayed that her bosses in Nairobi in their efforts to sell the story inserted the sensationalist headline "War Destroying Eritrean economy" and a lead sentence describing Eritrea as "verging on economic meltdown". They also inserted in her piece without consulting her some comments from Ethiopian government sources suggesting that all was well in Ethiopia...

PFDJ delegation in Libya on working visit

A delegation from the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) headed by the Front's Secretary, Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, is currently in Libya on a working visit.
The visit is being undertaken with the objective of reviewing the cooperation agreement concluded last year between the PFDJ and the Libyan Revolutionary Movement, during a visit to Eritrea by representatives of the latter. The cooperation accord concluded then covered political, economic, social and cultural fields.
The delegation headed by Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid includes Mr. Saleh Meky, Minister of Health, Mr. Abdalla Jabir, Head of Organizational Affairs at the PFDJ, Mr. Mohyedin Shengeb, Chairman of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), and Mr. Mohammed Ali Jabir, in charge of the office of external relations within the PFDJ...

Mahdi, Tourabi hold talks

Al-Saddiq Al-Mahdi, ex-Premier of Sudan, and Dr. Hassan Al-Tourabi Speaker of the National Council, held a meeting in Geneva May 1-2, during which they discussed the Sudanese crisis.
A statement issued by the Umma Party said that an open dialogue was conducted on the issues of dispute in the Sudan.
The result of the political dialogue, it said, is to reach an agenda and mechanism on the way of arriving at a Sudanese political agreement to resolve the national issues of dispute.
Extensive consultations would be conducted for taking the opinions of all the opposition factions and the Government, the statement by the Umma Party added.
It was agreed that the result and outcome of the consultations would determine the subsequent steps to be followed, it concluded.

Eritrean workers reaffirm determination to enhance devt., ensure defence of natl. sovereignty

Eritrean workers have reaffirmed their determination to continue exerting utmost efforts in order to enhance development and ensure defence of the nation's sovereignty. This was stated by Mr. Tekeste Baire, Secretary-General of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers (NCEW), while addressing a special gathering at the Asmara Expo grounds to mark this year's International Workers Day (May Day). He noted that this year's May Day events were taking place at a time when the present Ethiopian authorities are perpetrating acts of conspiracy designed to undermine Eritrea's unity and sovereignty. Mr. Tekeste stressed that Eritrean workers, as do other sections of society, are fully determined to foil the enemy conspiracy...

Eritreans in Sweden, Canada reaffirm resolve to strengthen nation's development, defence capacity

Eritreans residing in Stockholm, Sweden, have reaffirmed their desire to raise continued contributions in support of national development and defence programs. 1,500 Eritreans recently held a meeting in the Swedish capital for this purpose, during which they raised 88,000 dollars and 100,000 kroner as a result of actively participating in a bond scheme...

President Isaias's address on Liberation Day

Dear Compatriots inside the country and abroad,
Our independence anniversary this year, May 24, 1999, is being celebrated with special significance superceding the annual events in the past eight years. The Eritrean people had managed to achieve their political independence after a long and bitter struggle of 30 years. Furthermore, in the seven years of independence that followed, the Eritrean people were able to eradicate the vestiges of war and devastation to register a remarkable economic growth that was unparalleled in our circumstances or by the standards of similar realities. These achievements have in turn demonstrated in concrete terms the fruits of genuine independence.
But as the local proverb goes, there is no serenity with a storm. As such, the TPLF clique has declared war to curtail the path of peace and development and, to plunge the Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples in a new whirlwind of turmoil. This military adventure is solely driven by the TPLF's narrow and vindictive political will as well as irrational logic of "mutual destruction"....

Eritrea attends WHO Conference

An Eritrean delegation headed by Mr. Saleh Meky, Minister of Health, has been attending a conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva May 17-25. Delegates from 190 member countries took part in the conference.
Mr. Saleh Meky held talks with the Director-General of WHO, Mr. Gro Harlem Brutland, on the development of health services in Eritrea, including measures to eradicate malaria, polio and the like.
In another report, Eritrea is taking part in the 13th conference of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which is also currently being held in Geneva. The head of meteorological services, Mr. Asefaw Habtemichael, and Eritrea's Consul in Geneva, Mr. Bereket Woldeyohannes are attending the conference.

Ethiopia's wanton acts of destabilization in Somalia

In its letter of 14 May, 1999, addressed to the President of the Security Council, Ethiopia accuses Eritrea for "embarking on a large-scale military activity of destabilization in Somalia". Ethiopia further states that Eritrea is guilty of "violating Security Council Resolution 733 (1992)" through its "shipment of arms to one of the warring factions".
The audacity of the Ethiopian regime in levelling these hypocritical accusations against Eritrea is not surprising. Indeed, it has now become common practice for the leadership in Addis Ababa to flagrantly violate fundamental principles of international law - whether it is acts of brazen aggression, human rights violations or blatant incursions against neighbouring countries - to then accuse its victims for the very transgressions that it is guilty in a preemptive, if transparent, manner.
What are the true facts as far as Somalia is concerned?...

Eritrean, Ethiopian delegates to women's conference call for peaceful resolution of border conflict

Women delegates from Eritrea and Ethiopia to the African Women's Conference, which was held in Tanzania 17-21 May 1999, made a joint call to the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia to seek a peaceful solution to the border conflict.
This came from an initiative taken by the conferees and communicated to the Eritrean women's delegation headed by Woizero Fawzia Hashim, Minister of Justice, and the Ethiopian delegation headed by Ms. Gennet Zewdie, Minister of Education. The appeal calls upon the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments to adhere to the OAU Charter that stipulates respect for the boundaries inherited from colonialism, and urges the two governments to immediately conclude a ceasefire agreement and implement the terms of the OAU Framework Agreement....

Employers organizations of Eritrea, Ethiopia seek to promote peaceful settlement of border conflict

The Employers Federations of Eritrea and Ethiopia have expressed desire to work towards promoting a peaceful settlement of the border conflict between the two countries. Mr. Mengisteab Tekletsion, Chairman of the Employers Federation of Eritrea, and Mr. Roberto Iacona, President of the Ethiopian Employers Federation, recently agreed to send a letter of intent to pertinent officials of the International Labour Organization (ILO) requesting the use of his office as a bridge to communicate between them.
Following discussions Mr. Mengisteab and Mr. Roberto held during the 8th Pan-African Conference of Employers organizations in Dakar, Senegal, both heads of employers organizations stated: 'We discussed the problem of the [Eritro-Ethiopian] border conflict to find ways in which it can be solved by discussion rather than by war since we feel sorry about what has happened. The question came during the conference that one of the main factors to enhance the development of business is peace and stability. From this point of view, we started to discuss the matter on how we can help in solving the problem."...

The Eritrean Economy in 1998

by Gebremichael Mengstu (Lilo)
Over the past seven years, until the onset of the border conflict with Ethiopia, the new State of Eritrea had been striving hard to rehabilitate, reconstruct and develop its war-ravaged economy . Considerable efforts were made to make up for the lost time and opportunity during the 1952-1991 period.
Situation at Liberation
At liberation, as a consequence of the 30-year old war, recurrent droughts, and neglect and mismanagement of the economy by Ethiopia, the Eritrean government had inherited a completely devastated economy. The country's infrastructure was dilapidated, the productive capacity was weakened, and the private sector was decimated. The country had to start its development efforts from extremely low base, with meager resources and little external assistance. In short, the economic challenges facing the nation at liberation were formidable.
Progress since Liberation
Since liberation, the nascent State of Eritrea has initiated and implemented a number of policy measures, economic reforms and programmes aimed at rehabilitating and reconstructing the economy. Before the outbreak of the war in May 1998, real progress had been made and the economy had experienced strong recovery. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth during 1992-1997 averaged 7.0 percent, while inflation was kept at an average of 6.0 percent per year. Overall government fiscal deficit, including grants, was less than 5.0 percent of GDP at the end of 1997, and the country's gross foreign reserves increased from less than one-month of imports in 1992 to over seven months of imports at the end of 1997....

PFDJ official outlines outcome of working visit to Libya

On his return home from a recent working visit to Libya heading a delegation, Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, Secretary of the PFDJ, said that a series of meetings with Libyan counterparts were held from 2-12 May 1999 to discuss ways and means of effectively implementing bilateral agreements on political and economic cooperation concluded earlier.
He told reporters of the Eritrean News Agency that his delegation met with the Libyan ministers of foreign affairs, finance, education, health and members of the Libyan Revolutionary Committees and reached at a common understanding on the points discussed.
Mr Al-Amin further disclosed that in a bid to deepen bilateral agreements, both sides have decided to hold meetings in Asmara and Tripoli alternately.
The delegation also discussed with Libyan officials Eritro-Sudanese relations, the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict and the crisis in the Great Lakes region. Besides, it briefed Eritrean nationals residing in Libya on the objective reality in the country.

All preparations made for this year's farming season: Minister

(Part Two of excerpts from an interview that Mr. Arefayne Berhe, Minister of Agriculture, gave to Eri-TV)
Great efforts were made in banana plantation, but production has not reached the extent of export despite the fact that bananas have a good foreign market.
Regarding this point, a thorough study was made on the foreign market as to whether there is really a foreign market for the types of banana cultivated in our country in addition to the quantity which could be marketed. Also, we consulted some specialized institutions in our area. Samples of these bananas were sent for examination. It was agreed that it needs some improvement. And this is simple. The second step is to carry out the required improvements. Presently, we are planting it in cooperation with experienced farmers under the supervision of a foreign expert. Besides, we are providing all the requirements including fertilizers, machinery and pesticides. We have great hopes in the success of the experiment. The marketing of the production abroad is guaranteed...

More leaders send messages of congratulations

More Heads of State and prominent personalities have sent messages of congratulations in connection with the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day.
In their respective messages to President Isaias Afwerki, they wished the President good health and prosperity to the Eritrean people as a whole.
Among those who lately sent messages of congratulations are: Presidents Carlo Azelio of Italy, Ong Teng Chiyong of Singapore, Housni Mubarak of Egypt, Omar Hassan Al-Beshir of Sudan, Ali Abdalla Saleh of Yemen, Hafez Al-Assad of Syria, Petar Stoynov of Bulgaria, Costantinos Stefanopoulos of Greece, Jaques Chirac of France, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Franjo Tudjman of Croatia, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Sheikh Zaid Ben Sultan Al-Nahaya of the United Arab Emirates, King Fahad Ben Abdel-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jabir Al-Sabah, King Harald of Norway, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Pope John Paul II, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and OAU Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim...

Time for re-dedication

by Paulos Zaid
All Eritrean towns as well as villages, and mainly the capital, Asmara, as in the past seven years, were embellished with multicolour neon lights, the national flag and messages of congratulations on the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day written on the show windows of all business shops. Here in the capital, the anniversary was celebrated for the whole week with great enthusiasm and feeling of patriotism.
During the week, people from all walks of life, especially women in traditional clothes and children with bright holiday dresses flocked to Liberation and Martyrs Avenues and city squares to enjoy the warm air of freedom which is Asmara's blessing....

Unmasking the real belligerent nation

by Dr. Tesfay Yohannes
The truth is always the first casualty of war. During any war, it is not unusual to draw the long bow when victorious while downplaying defeat. However, the recent war between Eritrea and Ethiopia gave it a totally new meaning. Myriad truth distortions and misinformation clogged the media to a point where the world could not clearly differentiate between the victim and the aggressor; in fact, the aggressor looked like the victim and the victim like the aggressor.
Ostensibly, Ethiopia's motive was peace in the area, nonetheless, in the last four years, it invaded four out of its five neighbors: Sudan (1995), Eritrea (1997), Kenya (1999), and just recently, Somalia (1999). The only remaining neighbor, Djibouti, is in abeyance until opportune time; Ethiopia had long claimed Djibouti to be an integral part of its territory....

A hardworking, disciplined people: French Ambassador

Mr. Louis LeVert gave an interview to E.P. last week. Excerpts:
by Amanuel Sahle
After 8 years of independence, how do you characterize the overall development of Eritrea?
I had had no previous opportunity to visit Eritrea, so I discovered the country only in December 1996 and I cannot compare Eritrea now with what she had been right after the war of independence. But the improvement in the infrastructures is quite spectacular and the success in creating a well functioning government machine is also obvious.
How do you describe Eritrea as a nation?
Unlike many African countries, Eritrea has inherited a long tradition of written civilization, both in the highlands and in the lowlands, and most of her peoples had for a large part of their history experienced various forms of organized states.
Then came the colonial times. Like the rest of the continent, Eritrea was created as a political entity within her present borders by agreements involving mainly the colonial powers which had shown interest in the region. No consideration was given to the wishes or the traditions of the peoples, and most colonies were formed of peoples who differed in their religions, in their language and in their ways of life.
But then Eritrea entered a historical development which gave her a specific identity. The immigration of a large number of Italian colonists put many Eritreans in daily contact with the way of life and mentality of a modern European country. then the British administration allowed Eritreans to compare the methods of two different colonial powers. A public opinion was allowed to express itself until 1962. Finally, the behaviour of the Ethiopian government, which became more brutal with the Derg regime, succeeded unwittingly in giving Eritreans a feeling of national unity that showed its strength when the occupying power was defeated. The nation had proved itself through the struggle.
As a result of this complex and tragic history, Eritrea has inspite of the diversity of her people forged a greater sense of national unity than most other countries in the region....

President Isaias's address on Liberation Day

Dear Compatriots inside the country and abroad,
Our independence anniversary this year, May 24, 1999, is being celebrated with special significance superceding the annual events in the past eight years. The Eritrean people had managed to achieve their political independence after a long and bitter struggle of 30 years. Furthermore, in the seven years of independence that followed, the Eritrean people were able to eradicate the vestiges of war and devastation to register a remarkable economic growth that was unparalleled in our circumstances or by the standards of similar realities. These achievements have in turn demonstrated in concrete terms the fruits of genuine independence.
But as the local proverb goes, there is no serenity with a storm. As such, the TPLF clique has declared war to curtail the path of peace and development and, to plunge the Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples in a new whirlwind of turmoil. This military adventure is solely driven by the TPLF's narrow and vindictive political will as well as irrational logic of "mutual destruction"....

Eritrea attends WHO Conference

An Eritrean delegation headed by Mr. Saleh Meky, Minister of Health, has been attending a conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva May 17-25. Delegates from 190 member countries took part in the conference.
Mr. Saleh Meky held talks with the Director-General of WHO, Mr. Gro Harlem Brutland, on the development of health services in Eritrea, including measures to eradicate malaria, polio and the like.
In another report, Eritrea is taking part in the 13th conference of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which is also currently being held in Geneva. The head of meteorological services, Mr. Asefaw Habtemichael, and Eritrea's Consul in Geneva, Mr. Bereket Woldeyohannes are attending the conference.

Ethiopia's wanton acts of destabilization in Somalia

In its letter of 14 May, 1999, addressed to the President of the Security Council, Ethiopia accuses Eritrea for "embarking on a large-scale military activity of destabilization in Somalia". Ethiopia further states that Eritrea is guilty of "violating Security Council Resolution 733 (1992)" through its "shipment of arms to one of the warring factions".
The audacity of the Ethiopian regime in levelling these hypocritical accusations against Eritrea is not surprising. Indeed, it has now become common practice for the leadership in Addis Ababa to flagrantly violate fundamental principles of international law - whether it is acts of brazen aggression, human rights violations or blatant incursions against neighbouring countries - to then accuse its victims for the very transgressions that it is guilty in a preemptive, if transparent, manner.
What are the true facts as far as Somalia is concerned?...

Eritrean, Ethiopian delegates to women's conference call for peaceful resolution of border conflict

Women delegates from Eritrea and Ethiopia to the African Women's Conference, which was held in Tanzania 17-21 May 1999, made a joint call to the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia to seek a peaceful solution to the border conflict.
This came from an initiative taken by the conferees and communicated to the Eritrean women's delegation headed by Woizero Fawzia Hashim, Minister of Justice, and the Ethiopian delegation headed by Ms. Gennet Zewdie, Minister of Education. The appeal calls upon the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments to adhere to the OAU Charter that stipulates respect for the boundaries inherited from colonialism, and urges the two governments to immediately conclude a ceasefire agreement and implement the terms of the OAU Framework Agreement....

Employers organizations of Eritrea, Ethiopia seek to promote peaceful settlement of border conflict

The Employers Federations of Eritrea and Ethiopia have expressed desire to work towards promoting a peaceful settlement of the border conflict between the two countries. Mr. Mengisteab Tekletsion, Chairman of the Employers Federation of Eritrea, and Mr. Roberto Iacona, President of the Ethiopian Employers Federation, recently agreed to send a letter of intent to pertinent officials of the International Labour Organization (ILO) requesting the use of his office as a bridge to communicate between them.
Following discussions Mr. Mengisteab and Mr. Roberto held during the 8th Pan-African Conference of Employers organizations in Dakar, Senegal, both heads of employers organizations stated: 'We discussed the problem of the [Eritro-Ethiopian] border conflict to find ways in which it can be solved by discussion rather than by war since we feel sorry about what has happened. The question came during the conference that one of the main factors to enhance the development of business is peace and stability. From this point of view, we started to discuss the matter on how we can help in solving the problem."...

The Eritrean Economy in 1998

by Gebremichael Mengstu (Lilo)
Over the past seven years, until the onset of the border conflict with Ethiopia, the new State of Eritrea had been striving hard to rehabilitate, reconstruct and develop its war-ravaged economy . Considerable efforts were made to make up for the lost time and opportunity during the 1952-1991 period.
Situation at Liberation
At liberation, as a consequence of the 30-year old war, recurrent droughts, and neglect and mismanagement of the economy by Ethiopia, the Eritrean government had inherited a completely devastated economy. The country's infrastructure was dilapidated, the productive capacity was weakened, and the private sector was decimated. The country had to start its development efforts from extremely low base, with meager resources and little external assistance. In short, the economic challenges facing the nation at liberation were formidable.
Progress since Liberation
Since liberation, the nascent State of Eritrea has initiated and implemented a number of policy measures, economic reforms and programmes aimed at rehabilitating and reconstructing the economy. Before the outbreak of the war in May 1998, real progress had been made and the economy had experienced strong recovery. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth during 1992-1997 averaged 7.0 percent, while inflation was kept at an average of 6.0 percent per year. Overall government fiscal deficit, including grants, was less than 5.0 percent of GDP at the end of 1997, and the country's gross foreign reserves increased from less than one-month of imports in 1992 to over seven months of imports at the end of 1997....

PFDJ official outlines outcome of working visit to Libya

On his return home from a recent working visit to Libya heading a delegation, Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, Secretary of the PFDJ, said that a series of meetings with Libyan counterparts were held from 2-12 May 1999 to discuss ways and means of effectively implementing bilateral agreements on political and economic cooperation concluded earlier.
He told reporters of the Eritrean News Agency that his delegation met with the Libyan ministers of foreign affairs, finance, education, health and members of the Libyan Revolutionary Committees and reached at a common understanding on the points discussed.
Mr Al-Amin further disclosed that in a bid to deepen bilateral agreements, both sides have decided to hold meetings in Asmara and Tripoli alternately.
The delegation also discussed with Libyan officials Eritro-Sudanese relations, the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict and the crisis in the Great Lakes region. Besides, it briefed Eritrean nationals residing in Libya on the objective reality in the country.

All preparations made for this year's farming season: Minister

(Part Two of excerpts from an interview that Mr. Arefayne Berhe, Minister of Agriculture, gave to Eri-TV)
Great efforts were made in banana plantation, but production has not reached the extent of export despite the fact that bananas have a good foreign market.
Regarding this point, a thorough study was made on the foreign market as to whether there is really a foreign market for the types of banana cultivated in our country in addition to the quantity which could be marketed. Also, we consulted some specialized institutions in our area. Samples of these bananas were sent for examination. It was agreed that it needs some improvement. And this is simple. The second step is to carry out the required improvements. Presently, we are planting it in cooperation with experienced farmers under the supervision of a foreign expert. Besides, we are providing all the requirements including fertilizers, machinery and pesticides. We have great hopes in the success of the experiment. The marketing of the production abroad is guaranteed...

More leaders send messages of congratulations

More Heads of State and prominent personalities have sent messages of congratulations in connection with the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day.
In their respective messages to President Isaias Afwerki, they wished the President good health and prosperity to the Eritrean people as a whole.
Among those who lately sent messages of congratulations are: Presidents Carlo Azelio of Italy, Ong Teng Chiyong of Singapore, Housni Mubarak of Egypt, Omar Hassan Al-Beshir of Sudan, Ali Abdalla Saleh of Yemen, Hafez Al-Assad of Syria, Petar Stoynov of Bulgaria, Costantinos Stefanopoulos of Greece, Jaques Chirac of France, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Franjo Tudjman of Croatia, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Sheikh Zaid Ben Sultan Al-Nahaya of the United Arab Emirates, King Fahad Ben Abdel-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jabir Al-Sabah, King Harald of Norway, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Pope John Paul II, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and OAU Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim...

Time for re-dedication

by Paulos Zaid
All Eritrean towns as well as villages, and mainly the capital, Asmara, as in the past seven years, were embellished with multicolour neon lights, the national flag and messages of congratulations on the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day written on the show windows of all business shops. Here in the capital, the anniversary was celebrated for the whole week with great enthusiasm and feeling of patriotism.
During the week, people from all walks of life, especially women in traditional clothes and children with bright holiday dresses flocked to Liberation and Martyrs Avenues and city squares to enjoy the warm air of freedom which is Asmara's blessing....

Unmasking the real belligerent nation

by Dr. Tesfay Yohannes
The truth is always the first casualty of war. During any war, it is not unusual to draw the long bow when victorious while downplaying defeat. However, the recent war between Eritrea and Ethiopia gave it a totally new meaning. Myriad truth distortions and misinformation clogged the media to a point where the world could not clearly differentiate between the victim and the aggressor; in fact, the aggressor looked like the victim and the victim like the aggressor.
Ostensibly, Ethiopia's motive was peace in the area, nonetheless, in the last four years, it invaded four out of its five neighbors: Sudan (1995), Eritrea (1997), Kenya (1999), and just recently, Somalia (1999). The only remaining neighbor, Djibouti, is in abeyance until opportune time; Ethiopia had long claimed Djibouti to be an integral part of its territory....

A hardworking, disciplined people: French Ambassador

Mr. Louis LeVert gave an interview to E.P. last week. Excerpts:
by Amanuel Sahle
After 8 years of independence, how do you characterize the overall development of Eritrea?
I had had no previous opportunity to visit Eritrea, so I discovered the country only in December 1996 and I cannot compare Eritrea now with what she had been right after the war of independence. But the improvement in the infrastructures is quite spectacular and the success in creating a well functioning government machine is also obvious.
How do you describe Eritrea as a nation?
Unlike many African countries, Eritrea has inherited a long tradition of written civilization, both in the highlands and in the lowlands, and most of her peoples had for a large part of their history experienced various forms of organized states.
Then came the colonial times. Like the rest of the continent, Eritrea was created as a political entity within her present borders by agreements involving mainly the colonial powers which had shown interest in the region. No consideration was given to the wishes or the traditions of the peoples, and most colonies were formed of peoples who differed in their religions, in their language and in their ways of life.
But then Eritrea entered a historical development which gave her a specific identity. The immigration of a large number of Italian colonists put many Eritreans in daily contact with the way of life and mentality of a modern European country. then the British administration allowed Eritreans to compare the methods of two different colonial powers. A public opinion was allowed to express itself until 1962. Finally, the behaviour of the Ethiopian government, which became more brutal with the Derg regime, succeeded unwittingly in giving Eritreans a feeling of national unity that showed its strength when the occupying power was defeated. The nation had proved itself through the struggle.
As a result of this complex and tragic history, Eritrea has inspite of the diversity of her people forged a greater sense of national unity than most other countries in the region....

More News

  Laboratory test confirms ancient civilization near Asmara
  The TPLF's "Rosy Picture" of War
  President receives Algerian official
  TPLF's policy pushing Ethiopia to disintegration, OLF leader says
  Ethiopia: Riding the war-bicycle towards a self-imposed quagmire
  A conflict that is awaiting a just solution
  A country with clear vision and great determination: USAID head
  Natural resources and management issues
  Cautious optimism about improvement in food outlook for sub-Saharan Africa
  For boosting agricultural production
  Propagandists working overtime : Ethiopian officials hide the truth by trying to discredit western reporters
  Ethiopia and its claims
  FIFA's collaboration towards devt. of soccer in Eritrea
  Tourism in Eritrea reviving: Minister
  USD 1 million contribution
  Open Letter from Citizens for Peace in Eritrea (CPE) to President Bill Clinton
  Promoting training of skilled manpower
  A new Administrator for UNDP
  Eritrean Festival opens in Riyadh
  Minister conducts seminar in London
  Police Commissioner inaugurates branch office complex in Assab
  Strengthening NUEW's ties with counterpart organizations
  Evangelical Church makes donation
  Lamentation of Tigrean women

President receives Algerian official

President Isaias Afwerki yesterday received the Speaker of the Algerian National Assembly, Brother Abdelkadir Ben Saleh. The Algerian envoy delivered a message from Brother Abedel-Aziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, formally in inviting President Isaias to attend the 35th OAU Summit due to take place in Algiers next month. Upon receiving the Algerian official, President Isaias discussed with him the further strengthening of Eritrean-Algerian ties.

A country with clear vision and great determination: USAID head

(Highlights of an interview with Mr. William Andersen, outgoing head of USAID here)
What are your impressions about the people of Eritrea and their government?

My main impression is that the government and the people have a very clear vision of where they want Eritrea to go and a strong determination to get there. In fact, in my 25 years work in development, I don't believe I have seen any people who have more clear vision or a great determination to achieve that vision as well as optimism that they would get there...

Tourism in Eritrea reviving: Minister

The Kuwaiti magazine Al-Muacher interviewed Mr. Ahmed Haj Ali, Minister of Tourism, on the prospects of the Eritrean tourism industry and the efforts made to promote it, various fields of Eritrean tourism and opportunities of investment in this sector. Highlights of the interview follow...

Natural resources and management issues

Water resources
Eritrea is an arid and semi-arid country, and is not endowed with rich water resources. Furthermore, being part of Sahelian Africa it has been the victim of recurrent and devastating droughts. It is also a country heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture. The majority of the population depends on groundwater as in main water supply resource...

Cautious optimism about improvement in food outlook for sub-Saharan Africa

Though much of sub-Saharan Africa continues to see improved food and crop prospects, a Special UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Report released last month warns that war and civil strife remain a threat to food security in several countries of the sub-region. Adverse weather conditions are further aggravating the situation in some areas.
Perhaps hardest hit by civil strife is Angola, where the food outlook this year is "extremely bleak," according to the report, because of fighting between government forces and UNITA rebels, which resumed in December, just after the beginning of the current cropping season. It says, " Large-scale population displacement in rural areas is reported, when farm families abandoning their farms and homes take refuge in government-held towns and cities or in neighboring countries. Some reports say the Angolan country-side is being systematically depopulated...

A conflict that is awaiting a just solution

by George Malek
Everywhere you turn there seems to be fighting going on between nations, and one has to wonder what is happening to our world. In Africa we have, Ethiopia fighting Eritrea to take Eritrean land by force, in Angola we have one group fighting to overthrow the party governing that country, in Congo we have a war involving several countries in the region siding with governing party or the rebels, in Sierra Leone, in Algeria we have similar situations. And in other parts of Africa we have fighting of low intensities.
In Europe we have nineteen nations including the USA fighting a small country called Yugoslavia.
In Asia we have now Pakistan and India on the verge of going to war again over Cashmere...

The TPLF's "Rosy Picture" of War

The TPLF war-propaganda has gone beyond limits. In a statement issued form Addis Ababa, on May 27 1999, we are told the following "Unlike in Eritrea, there is no military conscription in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Defence Force is made up of volunteers who come from all parts of the country and represent Ethiopia's diverse nationalitiesthey all spoke of the comradery and friendship that exist among themmilitary officers and leaders fight side by side with their soldiersthe soldiers are happy to be fighting to protect these interests."
Does this rosy picture conform to actual reality? What are the real stories from the Battlefield? Excerpts follow:
Lt. Tazera Haile who had served in the Ethiopian Military for 18 years including ten years under the Derg regime said, "in all my years of military service, I have never been witness to such horrific scenes. Our soldiers were falling like leaves and no one was stopping to help wounded comrades." Lt. Haile added, "Although there is a preponderance of Oromos and Amharas in the army, the Tigrayans continue to control the command structure at every level."

Ethiopia: Riding the war-bicycle towards a self-imposed quagmire

by Aklilu Serekeberhan
No matter how much the Ethiopian government tries to obscure the issue, the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia can only be solved through a peaceful and legal means of demarcation. Having rejected the latest peace efforts, the EPRDF regime is, however, still sticking to its guns. While the Ethiopian people are prepared for the worst, Meles and Co still appear as willing as ever to defy the international community and stalk their warmongering rhetoric. Meanwhile, Ethiopians residing in different corners of the globe are demanding that the EPRDF government be ousted from power. In a series of demonstrations held this month, the Ethiopian nationals accused the authorities in Addis Ababa of dictatorship and backward minority rule. The regime in Addis Ababa is, ceaselessly, reading from new scripts and putting forth new pre-conditions with the apparent aim of impeding the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. And this, in midst of what?...

Propagandists working overtime : Ethiopian officials hide the truth by trying to discredit western reporters

by Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun May 18, 1999)
Around the time NATO and the U.S. went to war against Yugoslavia, another war in Africa was underway which in the space of days took more lives than have been lost through air strikes and probably by Serb reprisals in Kosovo. Yet few headlines or international protests took note.
The so-called "border war" between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which apart from mutual shelling had been more or less dormant since last May, flared up in March with an Ethiopian attack on three fronts.
I was in Eritrea before Christmas, visiting the disputed zones, especially the barren western region of Badme. Intense fighting at Zelambassa and Tsorena, on the border three hours drive south of the capital of Asmara, resulted in the Eritreans clobbering the Ethiopians. Foreign journalists reported the ground littered with Ethiopian dead...

Ethiopia and its claims

by Sara Tekle
Ostensibly the conflict between Ethiopia is over a small patch of land known as Badme. How this dispute evolved into a full scale war involving hundreds of thousands of people on both sides, how a war was declared on Eritrea by the Ethiopian regime is an on ongoing history. How this war has claimed and is still claiming tens of thousands of precious lives is well known. How with the excuse of this conflict the Ethiopian regime deported, tens of thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin is also well documented. That the Ethiopian regime is spending its scarce resources on arms while its own people are going hungry has been known now for sometime. The regime's intention to go on with this war indefinitely has been declared by practically all its officials; this also is not news...

USD 1 million contribution

A Single Eritrean family from abroad has made a contribution of USD 1 million towards bolstering the nation's defence capability. Expressing its appreciation to members of the Eritrean Defence Forces for their dedicated efforts to ensure defence of the nation's sovereignty, the said family stressed the supreme duty of each and every citizen to back up efforts to strengthen the country's defence capacity.
The generous contribution this single family had made in support of national defence programs attests to the devotion of Eritrean people to the motherland which is being witnessed more and more with each passing day.

FIFA's collaboration towards devt. of soccer in Eritrea

The International Football Federation (FIFA) is to extend USD 1 million to the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) for the development of soccer in this country. The said amount of aid would be disbursed in stages during the period 1999-2002. The ENFF has already secured USD 55,000 for this year as part of the annual quarterly disbursement.
Mr. Girmai Araya, Secretary of Eritrean National Football Federation, said that the collaboration obtained from FIFA will make due contribution in streamlining soccer activities in the country.

Eritrean Festival opens in Riyadh

A festival organized by Eritreans residing in Saudi Arabia in connection with the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day opened in Riyadh last Tuesday.
Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, Secretary of the PFDJ, presided over the opening ceremony in the company of Mr. Suleiman Al-Haj, Eritrea's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The three-day festival will feature cultural shows, sporting competitions, artistic contests and the like. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Suleiman outlined the achievements in reconstruction the Eritrean people had scored since liberation and their united stand at present to foil the TPLF regime's conspiracy against Eritrea's sovereignty, peace and stability.

Promoting training of skilled manpower

"As a woman, deciding to come to such hot place and learn shows great courage," said a 19-year old Hanna Kifle, who was trained in building and wood works at the Mai-Atal Technical Training Centre. Since the training center was established in 1995, it has trained 700 nationals including demobilized ex-combatants, displaced persons and returnees. Mr. Melake Tewelde, head of the training center, said, "the main objective of the technical institute is to emancipate citizens from dependency and enable them to become productive."
On April 25, 1999, 52 students, of which 11 were women, graduated in general building and woodwork at the Mai-Atal Technical School. The majority of the graduates included nationals who were deported from Ethiopia following the border conflict with that country.

Minister conducts seminar in London

Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie, Minister of Energy and Mines, has conducted a seminar in London for Eritreans residing in the city. More than one thousand Eritrean citizens attended the seminar. The Minister briefed them on developments connected with the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. Participants of the seminar reaffirmed their support to programs aimed at strengthening the nation's defence capability.

For boosting agricultural production

Before the liberation of Eritrea, the agricultural sector, particularly in Zoba Debubawi Keyih Bahri, was completely neglected. There was almost no agricultural activity in that part of the country apart from the transit service the region was offering to agricultural products via the Port of Assab.
Presently, however, the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture is making continuos efforts to introduce horticulture, poultry and animal husbandry with the expansion of veterinary services. As the region witnessed very little agricultural activity in the past, research is being done to find out the right type and seasons of crops, fruits and vegetables that could be cultivated in this region. In a bid to facilitate the research and obtain precise results, various testing centres have been put in place in Harsile, Awrae', Gebe, Yireb, and in the plain of Mabra...

More News

  Laboratory test confirms ancient civilization near Asmara
  The TPLF's "Rosy Picture" of War
  President receives Algerian official
  TPLF's policy pushing Ethiopia to disintegration, OLF leader says
  Ethiopia: Riding the war-bicycle towards a self-imposed quagmire
  A conflict that is awaiting a just solution
  A country with clear vision and great determination: USAID head
  Natural resources and management issues
  Cautious optimism about improvement in food outlook for sub-Saharan Africa
  For boosting agricultural production
  Propagandists working overtime : Ethiopian officials hide the truth by trying to discredit western reporters
  Ethiopia and its claims
  FIFA's collaboration towards devt. of soccer in Eritrea
  Tourism in Eritrea reviving: Minister
  USD 1 million contribution
  Open Letter from Citizens for Peace in Eritrea (CPE) to President Bill Clinton
  Promoting training of skilled manpower
  A new Administrator for UNDP
  Eritrean Festival opens in Riyadh
  Minister conducts seminar in London
  Police Commissioner inaugurates branch office complex in Assab
  Strengthening NUEW's ties with counterpart organizations
  Evangelical Church makes donation
  Lamentation of Tigrean women

Major Afwerki Iyassu (Aklel)

President receives Algerian official

President Isaias Afwerki yesterday received the Speaker of the Algerian National Assembly, Brother Abdelkadir Ben Saleh. The Algerian envoy delivered a message from Brother Abedel-Aziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, formally in inviting President Isaias to attend the 35th OAU Summit due to take place in Algiers next month. Upon receiving the Algerian official, President Isaias discussed with him the further strengthening of Eritrean-Algerian ties.

A country with clear vision and great determination: USAID head

(Highlights of an interview with Mr. William Andersen, outgoing head of USAID here)
What are your impressions about the people of Eritrea and their government?

My main impression is that the government and the people have a very clear vision of where they want Eritrea to go and a strong determination to get there. In fact, in my 25 years work in development, I don't believe I have seen any people who have more clear vision or a great determination to achieve that vision as well as optimism that they would get there...

Tourism in Eritrea reviving: Minister

The Kuwaiti magazine Al-Muacher interviewed Mr. Ahmed Haj Ali, Minister of Tourism, on the prospects of the Eritrean tourism industry and the efforts made to promote it, various fields of Eritrean tourism and opportunities of investment in this sector. Highlights of the interview follow...

Natural resources and management issues

Water resources
Eritrea is an arid and semi-arid country, and is not endowed with rich water resources. Furthermore, being part of Sahelian Africa it has been the victim of recurrent and devastating droughts. It is also a country heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture. The majority of the population depends on groundwater as in main water supply resource...

Cautious optimism about improvement in food outlook for sub-Saharan Africa

Though much of sub-Saharan Africa continues to see improved food and crop prospects, a Special UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Report released last month warns that war and civil strife remain a threat to food security in several countries of the sub-region. Adverse weather conditions are further aggravating the situation in some areas.
Perhaps hardest hit by civil strife is Angola, where the food outlook this year is "extremely bleak," according to the report, because of fighting between government forces and UNITA rebels, which resumed in December, just after the beginning of the current cropping season. It says, " Large-scale population displacement in rural areas is reported, when farm families abandoning their farms and homes take refuge in government-held towns and cities or in neighboring countries. Some reports say the Angolan country-side is being systematically depopulated...

A conflict that is awaiting a just solution

by George Malek
Everywhere you turn there seems to be fighting going on between nations, and one has to wonder what is happening to our world. In Africa we have, Ethiopia fighting Eritrea to take Eritrean land by force, in Angola we have one group fighting to overthrow the party governing that country, in Congo we have a war involving several countries in the region siding with governing party or the rebels, in Sierra Leone, in Algeria we have similar situations. And in other parts of Africa we have fighting of low intensities.
In Europe we have nineteen nations including the USA fighting a small country called Yugoslavia.
In Asia we have now Pakistan and India on the verge of going to war again over Cashmere...

The TPLF's "Rosy Picture" of War

The TPLF war-propaganda has gone beyond limits. In a statement issued form Addis Ababa, on May 27 1999, we are told the following "Unlike in Eritrea, there is no military conscription in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Defence Force is made up of volunteers who come from all parts of the country and represent Ethiopia's diverse nationalitiesthey all spoke of the comradery and friendship that exist among themmilitary officers and leaders fight side by side with their soldiersthe soldiers are happy to be fighting to protect these interests."
Does this rosy picture conform to actual reality? What are the real stories from the Battlefield? Excerpts follow:
Lt. Tazera Haile who had served in the Ethiopian Military for 18 years including ten years under the Derg regime said, "in all my years of military service, I have never been witness to such horrific scenes. Our soldiers were falling like leaves and no one was stopping to help wounded comrades." Lt. Haile added, "Although there is a preponderance of Oromos and Amharas in the army, the Tigrayans continue to control the command structure at every level."

Ethiopia: Riding the war-bicycle towards a self-imposed quagmire

by Aklilu Serekeberhan
No matter how much the Ethiopian government tries to obscure the issue, the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia can only be solved through a peaceful and legal means of demarcation. Having rejected the latest peace efforts, the EPRDF regime is, however, still sticking to its guns. While the Ethiopian people are prepared for the worst, Meles and Co still appear as willing as ever to defy the international community and stalk their warmongering rhetoric. Meanwhile, Ethiopians residing in different corners of the globe are demanding that the EPRDF government be ousted from power. In a series of demonstrations held this month, the Ethiopian nationals accused the authorities in Addis Ababa of dictatorship and backward minority rule. The regime in Addis Ababa is, ceaselessly, reading from new scripts and putting forth new pre-conditions with the apparent aim of impeding the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. And this, in midst of what?...

Propagandists working overtime : Ethiopian officials hide the truth by trying to discredit western reporters

by Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun May 18, 1999)
Around the time NATO and the U.S. went to war against Yugoslavia, another war in Africa was underway which in the space of days took more lives than have been lost through air strikes and probably by Serb reprisals in Kosovo. Yet few headlines or international protests took note.
The so-called "border war" between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which apart from mutual shelling had been more or less dormant since last May, flared up in March with an Ethiopian attack on three fronts.
I was in Eritrea before Christmas, visiting the disputed zones, especially the barren western region of Badme. Intense fighting at Zelambassa and Tsorena, on the border three hours drive south of the capital of Asmara, resulted in the Eritreans clobbering the Ethiopians. Foreign journalists reported the ground littered with Ethiopian dead...

Ethiopia and its claims

by Sara Tekle
Ostensibly the conflict between Ethiopia is over a small patch of land known as Badme. How this dispute evolved into a full scale war involving hundreds of thousands of people on both sides, how a war was declared on Eritrea by the Ethiopian regime is an on ongoing history. How this war has claimed and is still claiming tens of thousands of precious lives is well known. How with the excuse of this conflict the Ethiopian regime deported, tens of thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin is also well documented. That the Ethiopian regime is spending its scarce resources on arms while its own people are going hungry has been known now for sometime. The regime's intention to go on with this war indefinitely has been declared by practically all its officials; this also is not news...

USD 1 million contribution

A Single Eritrean family from abroad has made a contribution of USD 1 million towards bolstering the nation's defence capability. Expressing its appreciation to members of the Eritrean Defence Forces for their dedicated efforts to ensure defence of the nation's sovereignty, the said family stressed the supreme duty of each and every citizen to back up efforts to strengthen the country's defence capacity.
The generous contribution this single family had made in support of national defence programs attests to the devotion of Eritrean people to the motherland which is being witnessed more and more with each passing day.

FIFA's collaboration towards devt. of soccer in Eritrea

The International Football Federation (FIFA) is to extend USD 1 million to the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) for the development of soccer in this country. The said amount of aid would be disbursed in stages during the period 1999-2002. The ENFF has already secured USD 55,000 for this year as part of the annual quarterly disbursement.
Mr. Girmai Araya, Secretary of Eritrean National Football Federation, said that the collaboration obtained from FIFA will make due contribution in streamlining soccer activities in the country.

Eritrean Festival opens in Riyadh

A festival organized by Eritreans residing in Saudi Arabia in connection with the 8th anniversary of Liberation Day opened in Riyadh last Tuesday.
Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed Seid, Secretary of the PFDJ, presided over the opening ceremony in the company of Mr. Suleiman Al-Haj, Eritrea's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The three-day festival will feature cultural shows, sporting competitions, artistic contests and the like. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Suleiman outlined the achievements in reconstruction the Eritrean people had scored since liberation and their united stand at present to foil the TPLF regime's conspiracy against Eritrea's sovereignty, peace and stability.

Promoting training of skilled manpower

"As a woman, deciding to come to such hot place and learn shows great courage," said a 19-year old Hanna Kifle, who was trained in building and wood works at the Mai-Atal Technical Training Centre. Since the training center was established in 1995, it has trained 700 nationals including demobilized ex-combatants, displaced persons and returnees. Mr. Melake Tewelde, head of the training center, said, "the main objective of the technical institute is to emancipate citizens from dependency and enable them to become productive."
On April 25, 1999, 52 students, of which 11 were women, graduated in general building and woodwork at the Mai-Atal Technical School. The majority of the graduates included nationals who were deported from Ethiopia following the border conflict with that country.

Minister conducts seminar in London

Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie, Minister of Energy and Mines, has conducted a seminar in London for Eritreans residing in the city. More than one thousand Eritrean citizens attended the seminar. The Minister briefed them on developments connected with the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict. Participants of the seminar reaffirmed their support to programs aimed at strengthening the nation's defence capability.

For boosting agricultural production

Before the liberation of Eritrea, the agricultural sector, particularly in Zoba Debubawi Keyih Bahri, was completely neglected. There was almost no agricultural activity in that part of the country apart from the transit service the region was offering to agricultural products via the Port of Assab.
Presently, however, the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture is making continuos efforts to introduce horticulture, poultry and animal husbandry with the expansion of veterinary services. As the region witnessed very little agricultural activity in the past, research is being done to find out the right type and seasons of crops, fruits and vegetables that could be cultivated in this region. In a bid to facilitate the research and obtain precise results, various testing centres have been put in place in Harsile, Awrae', Gebe, Yireb, and in the plain of Mabra...