Date: Sun, 25 May 2014 02:16:23 +0200
President Isaias Afewerki's speech on the occasion of the 23rd Independence
day celebrations
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/images/abc-may-24-news-president.jpgDe
ar Compatriots inside the country and abroad
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first express my warmest congratulations to the entire people of
Eritrea and to our friends and partners on this auspicious occasion of the
23rd anniversary of our liberation and sovereignty. Let me, likewise,
express profound gratitude to the HolidaysCoordinating Committee, to members
of the Armed Forces,the national associations of students and youth,
community organizations, artists and creative personalities, cultural groups
and friendly peoples for the inspiring spectacles and shows that they have
organized in different parts of our country as well as the world at large to
glorify this day.
Special thanks to the guests among us today - Brother Ibrahim Gendur,
Brother Mohamed TahirEila, Brother Mohamed Yusuf Adem for their
participation on this occasion. I wish to express my profound gratitude and
best wishes to them and to the people of the Sudan.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The independence and sovereignty of peoples have their own distinct
attributes and peculiarities. In the same token, the independence and
sovereignty of the people of Eritrea has its own special flavour and
significance. All the peoples of Africa possess their own distinct history,
for which they take pride. But all the countries presently recognized as
sovereign political entities took shape at the end of the 19th century with
the advent and expansion of European colonialism. In this context and for
the geo-strategic exigencies of the time, Eritrea was seen as a gateway in
the colonial scramble in northeast Africa. Hence it became one of the first
countries that were constituted under colonial rule. And thereafter, it
underwent through a rapid socio-economic transformation until the eruption
of the Second World War in the context of the prevailing schemes of colonial
expansion. The history of Eritrean resistance to colonialism within the
milieu of this imposed process of transformation is a narrative of civilized
heroism that evokes national pride.
The geo-strategic place and importance of Eritrea and its people did not
alter after the end of the Second World War in spite of profound changes in
the global order. The new global order characterized by the "Cold War"
should have recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Eritrean
people. But they opted to put Eritrea under "protection" in order to imbue
justification and pave the way for the sinister plot that they had in mind.
Indeed, this was later revealed in the explicit pronouncement: "that
independent Eritrea would not serve our global strategic interests'
In the short period of "British Protection", even the infrastructure that
was essentially built to enhance colonial rule was willfully destroyed. The
various political subterfuges that were conceived to obliterate Eritrean
national identity are indeed fresh in our collective memories. The
resistance that the people of Eritrea waged in those times was, as ever,
characterized by inspiring heroism.
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/images/abc-may-24-news-independence6.j
pgThe new modus operandi of predatory domination during the era of the "Cold
War" was not through direct colonial rule as in the preceding times. This
was now carried out through proxies. The US, which was one of the
superpowers in that era, thus ensured the annexation of Eritrea through
surrogates who were at its beck and call in order to advance its
international and regional strategies of dominance and monopoly. The crimes
perpetrated to stifle through brute military force the expressed wishes of
the Eritrean people for independence by the United States and its regional
anchors is too fresh in our memories to merit elaboration. The former
Soviet Union too joined the fray and extended succour to the military
offensives that were unleashed in the latter decades. The resistance and
struggle that the Eritrean people waged during the Cold War, at the time of
colonial expansion through local surrogates, was unparalleled constituting
the climax of its history of struggle, heroism and national pride.
The independence that the people of Eritrea achieved in 1991and whose
23rdAnniversary we are celebrating today is but the history of the
relentless struggle; of challenges and resistance for almost 100 years;
against successive colonial rulers and their puppets. That is why the tone
and flavour of our independence celebrations assume particular significance
and are sources of immense national pride.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the past 23 years too, and in spite of end of the Cold War andunfolding
dynamic global changes, the defunct dream of domination and hegemony of the
United States which pretends to be the "sole super power" has not been
altered. At a time when the Eritrean people had barely attained respite
with the independence of the country and embarked on nation building with
earnest, new machinations were woven to foment conflict and crises in order
to stifle nascent stability and economic growth and to hold them hostage.
As a consequence, "conflict on territorial waters with Yemen", followed by
"border conflict in Badme" were set in motion. When these two events were
settled through arbitral processes, "the border dispute with Djibouti" was
concocted. All these subterfuges did not mollify the appetite of those bent
on domination and monopoly. And in order to prevent the Eritrean people
from seeking justice and resisting the occupation of its sovereign lands and
to silence its voice, a sanctions resolution was passed in 2009 under the
umbrella of the UN Security Council. This was another manifestation in the
chain of predatory and unwarranted hostility. This is in addition to
intense and unremitting acts of subversion comprising of military,
political, diplomatic, economic as well as human-trafficking ploys that are
accompanied by psychological warfare. The central aim of these concerted
hostile acts is to weaken all the endowments of the Eritrean people and
vanquish its resistance. But the resistance of the Eritrean people has not
succumbed to these machinations in the face of the declared war for almost
20 years now. On the contrary, it has been consolidated and reinforced.
Indeed, all these machinations have increasingly been exposed and are
dissipating with time. This has, in turn, induced further frustration in
the architects of adversity and hostility. The frantic vilification
campaigns that are woven daily and the vain sabre rattling epitomize these
frustrations. The heroic and emboldening resistance the Eritrea people
have carried out in the last twenty years is thus part and parcel of 100
years of history of unparalleled resilience and resolve.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Against this backdrop of the history of resistance of the Eritrean people
for liberation, dignity and sovereignty, we have strived, in the past twenty
years, to pursue the task of nation building within the desired framework
and identified priorities without being derailed or becoming hostage to all
the hostilities and provocations and without slacking our efforts for the
liberation of our sovereign territories. The real meaning of liberation and
independence is its translation to sustainable progress and the improvement
in the quality of life and people's living standards. This can only be
secured through relentless developmental endeavours. Hence, the priority of
our priorities is to lay robust foundations for the rehabilitation and
growth of the devastated economy. This does not, and should not, constitute
of white-elephant or pompous projects that are implemented for propaganda or
public relation stints. The serious developmental projects and programmes
we pursue must ensure sustainable growth. They must be characterized by
extensive and equitable spatial outreach; and, uphold citizenship equality
rights while not creating imbalances of access and opportunity. The pillars
of this developmental drive are agriculture, manufacturing and services.
That the progress we have achieved in laying the robust
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/images/abc-may-24-news-independence1.j
pgfoundations for a sustainable economic order is substantial and that it is
growing, sector by sector,with time in terms of quantity, quality and
capacity can be gauged easily by the facts on the ground. That its pace and
momentum will increase is also evident. Indeed, this is why we are
witnessing a surge in frantic hostilities in a futile bid to stem its
progress.
The enhancement of human capital is decisive, in addition to other
endowments, for ensuring sustainable developmental growth. In this context,
it is imperative to strengthen and bolster slackening discipline as well as
educational and professional training to ensure the requisite acquisition of
knowledge, technical expertise and work experiences. This is an urgent and
timely task that requires focussed attention.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Within the framework of our tasks of nation building, the political
infrastructure assumes a vital role as a vehicle to advance our overall
objectives. We have gleaned important lessons and experiences from the
hostile external schemes aimed at derailing our nation-building endeavours
and processes. I would thus like to announce on this occasion that a
constitution drafting process will be launched in order to chart out the
political road map for the future governmental structure.
In conclusion, I would like to express my deep appreciation for the Eritrean
people who made independence a reality through relentless struggle,
sacrifice, and by overcoming all hurdles; to the people of Eritrea who are
now engaged in the nation-building process day and night in a spirit of
patriotic devotion to the homeland; including mothers who are immersed in
hard developmental work while carrying their infants on their backs,; and to
the members of the Defense Forces. May we enjoy a good rainy season!
Glory to our Martyrs!
Victory to the Masses!
24 May 2014
(image/jpeg attachment: image001.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image003.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image005.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image007.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image008.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image009.jpg)