From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Fri Jun 12 2009 - 11:43:52 EDT
*Websites Please post attached file.*
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*June 12, 2009*
*For Immediate Release*
*U.S.** Congress soundly rejects effort to tar Eritrea*
The Organization of Eritrean Americans (OEA) is pleased to see that the
United States House of Representatives on Wednesday June 10, 2009,
overwhelmingly rejected an amendment by California Republican Ed Royce
declaring that Eritrean support for insurgents in Somalia poses a direct
threat to U.S. national security, and calling for Eritrea to be designated a
state sponsor of terrorism.
*The OEA again expresses profound dismay that this ill-advised effort to
link Eritrea to terrorism is still being pursued by lobbyists working for
the minority regime of Ethiopia. *But it is heartening to see that the new
Congress used sound judgment in making a decision that can only create
opportunities for better diplomatic relations between the United States and
Eritrea, and for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
OEA would like to thank the efforts of Congressman Donald Payne who traveled
to the region and saw for himself that Eritrea is not involved in any type
of terrorism and is a key player in the effort to bring about peace in the
region. We would also like to thank the other members of the House of
Representatives who rejected the amendment which was based on what
Congressman Payne described as information that was “factually wrong and
dated.” We hope Congressman Royce will get a chance to travel to the region
to see firsthand the complex issues that define this volatile part of Africa
and, most importantly, to devise ways to bring about peace in this strategic
region at the southern flank of the Middle East.**
*Eritrea** has been fighting terrorism since long before September 11, 2001.
*It has also proven over and over that it has nothing to do with the chaos
in Somalia and has only expressed its interest in seeing Somalis solving
their own problems. The UN’s Special Representative to Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou
Ould-Abdallah, has been quoted as saying as late as May 30, 2009, that there
was no proof that shows Eritrea’s involvement in Somalia.
In line with its wishes for 2009 expressed in a press release earlier this
year, the OEA once again requests that a major change in the direction of
U.S. policy for the Horn of Africa is a must in order to bring stability to
the Horn of Africa region. OEA believe that a short-sighted policy for the
Horn jeopardizes long-term U.S. interests in the region, and even the rest
of the continent.
*The OEA, which has been working to build US-Eritrea relations, again
welcomes the opportunity to work with the new Administration to repair
relations between the two nations soured by the outgoing Administration and
its failed policies for the *Horn of Africa* that are threatening to
destabilize the entire region. *