Eritrea celebrates 15 years of independence
FIRST of all I would like to take this golden opportunity to extend my congratulations to all Eritreans and Ugandans. Eritrea fought and won one of the longest wars in the world. After 30 years of bitter struggle, the country achieved total independence and the right to self-determination.
By Gherahtu Tesalem
FIRST of all I would like to take this golden opportunity to extend my congratulations to all Eritreans and Ugandans. Eritrea fought and won one of the longest wars in the world. After 30 years of bitter struggle, the country achieved total independence and the right to self-determination.
Therefore, May 24, 2006 was a day of great historical significance for all Eritreans in and outside the country. It is now 15 years since our country attained liberation. Our independence day is always celebrated with great enthusiasm because it is the biggest and most unique of all holidays in our country and we have paid a tremendous price for it.
Economy
The economic development of Eritrea depends on its people. The Eritrean government has done a lot of things in the last 15 years of independence. Much has been achieved, especially in infrastructural development, education and health.
The government of Eritrea is making big investments in education in order to develop its human resource, and substantial investments in infrastructure.
Eritrea has over 1,200km of coastal line, which is the longest in the Red Sea. As part of the plan to attract more business opportunity, we are creating a free zone at Massawa port with the newly constructed Massawa International Airport to connect all neighboring countries to Eritrea.
Even though Eritrean Airlines has limited flights now, with time we will have more flights, especially to neighboring African countries.
Uganda has a lot to benefit from Eritrea and Eritrea also has a lot to benefit from Uganda. There is mutual benefit between these two people.
The bilateral agreement we have with Uganda is encouraging the business community to discover each other’s market potential. People from both countries do not need visas to cross over.
Eritrea is one of the safest places in Africa and there is no corruption at all.
Peace and stability in the region
As we all know, peace is very important. Without peace, we cannot achieve our goals to develop our continent.
As a country and government, we need peace and stability in our nation and neighboring countries because when there is no peace, there is no development.
Peace comes with mutual respect between nations and their people. For instance, between 1998-2000, a bitter, tough border war between the horn states of Eritrea and Ethiopia claimed about 100,000 lives and displaced more than one million people.
After the two years, on December 12, 2000, Eritrea and Ethiopia signed comprehensive agreements at Algiers under the Algiers group, which witnessed the agreements. This group comprised the African Union, European Union, United Nations and USA.
Both sides agreed in advance that this decision would be final and binding.
Under Article 4.2 of the Algiers Peace Agreement, a neutral five-member Boundary Commission was established. It had a mandate to delimit and demarcate the colonial treaty boundary based on pertinent colonial treaties of 1900, 1902, and 1908 and applicable international law.
Then over two years, the commission was established and it collected important information from both sides. Its decision, issued in April 2002, clearly awarded to Eritrea the town of Badme, which had been the cause of the border conflict.
Eritrea always respects laws. We were not happy about the decision given to the Red Sea Island with Yemen, but since it was final and binding, we have to respect the law. And there is no problem between Yemen and Eritrea anymore.
But on the side of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian regime still rejects to accept the final and binding decision, instead calling a dialogue to adjust the decision. I think this is the first time that a country has rejected such a decision. Eritrea, on the other hand, has accepted the decision and is ready to implement the demarcation process.
The peace process is in a dangerous crisis. Therefore, the international community, especially the Algiers group which witnessed the signing of the agreement, has to put serious pressure on the Ethiopian regime to respect international law and accept the Algiers peace agreement fully and without any conditions.
Implementing the peace agreement will give an ever-lasting solution and peace for both Eritreans and Ethiopians. Both nations suffered from the war, and now their people need peace, stability and development.
For this to happen, the law must be respected. So the ball for peace and stability is in the hands of the Ethiopian regime.
Uganda, as a member of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries and a friend to both Eritrea and Ethiopia, has to contribute a lot to implementing the final and binding Algiers peace agreement for the sake of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
I wish peace and stability for Eritrea, our neighboring countries and the entire continent.
The writer is the Honorary Consul of the state of Eritrea to Uganda
FIRST of all I would like to take this golden opportunity to extend my congratulations to all Eritreans and Ugandans. Eritrea fought and won one of the longest wars in the world. After 30 years of bitter struggle, the country achieved total independence and the right to self-determination.
Therefore, May 24, 2006 was a day of great historical significance for all Eritreans in and outside the country. It is now 15 years since our country attained liberation. Our independence day is always celebrated with great enthusiasm because it is the biggest and most unique of all holidays in our country and we have paid a tremendous price for it.
Economy
The economic development of Eritrea depends on its people. The Eritrean government has done a lot of things in the last 15 years of independence. Much has been achieved, especially in infrastructural development, education and health.
The government of Eritrea is making big investments in education in order to develop its human resource, and substantial investments in infrastructure.
Eritrea has over 1,200km of coastal line, which is the longest in the Red Sea. As part of the plan to attract more business opportunity, we are creating a free zone at Massawa port with the newly constructed Massawa International Airport to connect all neighboring countries to Eritrea.
Even though Eritrean Airlines has limited flights now, with time we will have more flights, especially to neighboring African countries.
Uganda has a lot to benefit from Eritrea and Eritrea also has a lot to benefit from Uganda. There is mutual benefit between these two people.
The bilateral agreement we have with Uganda is encouraging the business community to discover each other’s market potential. People from both countries do not need visas to cross over.
Eritrea is one of the safest places in Africa and there is no corruption at all.
Peace and stability in the region
As we all know, peace is very important. Without peace, we cannot achieve our goals to develop our continent.
As a country and government, we need peace and stability in our nation and neighboring countries because when there is no peace, there is no development.
Peace comes with mutual respect between nations and their people. For instance, between 1998-2000, a bitter, tough border war between the horn states of Eritrea and Ethiopia claimed about 100,000 lives and displaced more than one million people.
After the two years, on December 12, 2000, Eritrea and Ethiopia signed comprehensive agreements at Algiers under the Algiers group, which witnessed the agreements. This group comprised the African Union, European Union, United Nations and USA.
Both sides agreed in advance that this decision would be final and binding.
Under Article 4.2 of the Algiers Peace Agreement, a neutral five-member Boundary Commission was established. It had a mandate to delimit and demarcate the colonial treaty boundary based on pertinent colonial treaties of 1900, 1902, and 1908 and applicable international law.
Then over two years, the commission was established and it collected important information from both sides. Its decision, issued in April 2002, clearly awarded to Eritrea the town of Badme, which had been the cause of the border conflict.
Eritrea always respects laws. We were not happy about the decision given to the Red Sea Island with Yemen, but since it was final and binding, we have to respect the law. And there is no problem between Yemen and Eritrea anymore.
But on the side of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian regime still rejects to accept the final and binding decision, instead calling a dialogue to adjust the decision. I think this is the first time that a country has rejected such a decision. Eritrea, on the other hand, has accepted the decision and is ready to implement the demarcation process.
The peace process is in a dangerous crisis. Therefore, the international community, especially the Algiers group which witnessed the signing of the agreement, has to put serious pressure on the Ethiopian regime to respect international law and accept the Algiers peace agreement fully and without any conditions.
Implementing the peace agreement will give an ever-lasting solution and peace for both Eritreans and Ethiopians. Both nations suffered from the war, and now their people need peace, stability and development.
For this to happen, the law must be respected. So the ball for peace and stability is in the hands of the Ethiopian regime.
Uganda, as a member of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries and a friend to both Eritrea and Ethiopia, has to contribute a lot to implementing the final and binding Algiers peace agreement for the sake of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
I wish peace and stability for Eritrea, our neighboring countries and the entire continent.
The writer is the Honorary Consul of the state of Eritrea to Uganda