Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 17:14:17 +0200
<http://www.madote.com/2014/05/john-kerrys-congratulation-of-eritrean.html>
John Kerry's Congratulation of Eritrean Independence Day changes nothing
Written By Admin on May 28, 2014 | 5:00 AM
Yesterday, U.S. Secretary John Kerry did something no senior U.S. official
has done in quite some time: congratulate Eritrea. In his carefully worded
short message, Kerry
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/05/226548.htm> said:
On behalf of the American people, I welcome the opportunity to send my
warmest wishes to the people of Eritrea on the 23rd anniversary of your
independence which took place May 24. Know that the government and people of
the United States stand beside you in your continued search for the promise
of a free, prosperous, and democratic Eritrea.
Now compare this short congratulatory message to the one he
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/05/226560.htm> said about
Ethiopia the same day:
On behalf of the government and the people of the United States, I send my
best wishes to the government and people of Ethiopia as you celebrate your
national day on May 28.
It was a great pleasure to return to Addis Ababa earlier this month and see
first-hand examples of the longstanding partnership between the United
States and Ethiopia.
During a visit to Gandhi Memorial Hospital and a conversation with the
doctors, nurses and patients there, I was moved and proud to see results of
our joint efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.
I was also delighted to celebrate the impressive contributions to society of
Ethiopian youth and look forward to welcoming several to the United States
to participate in the Young African Leaders Initiative Summit.
These are just two examples of our support of Ethiopia's peaceful and
prosperous future. The United States is committed to promoting Ethiopia's
economic growth and development, democratic governance and respect for human
rights, and peace and security in the region.
As you gather with family and friends on your national day, the government
and people of the United States wish you a most festive celebration.
As expected, Kerry was careful not to congratulate the very government that
brought Eritrea's independence to reality, while he shamelessly
congratulated the Ethiopian regime despite this regime gunning down nearly
<http://www.madote.com/2014/04/ethiopian-regime-kills-at-least-15.html> 50
student protesters in Ambo just a day before his visit to Addis Ababa.
Kerry seems to think giving a congratulatory remark to the Eritrean people,
all while his administration supports illegal sanctions against them, is
going to win his regime hearts and minds.
If Kerry wants to appear to be sincere, he should follow in the footsteps of
former U.S. government officials who genuinely seek or have worked to
improve U.S.-Eritrea relations on the people and government level. Officials
such as Ambassador Herman Cohen or the late congressmen Donald Payne, who
visited Eritrea in 2007.
At any rate, Kerry's congratulation feels uncomfortably phony, and is a few
days too late. More importantly, it will change nothing on the ground so
long as Susan Rice continues to hold her personal vendettas against Eritrea
and its people.
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXq34iMAUCk/U4XOL1wGF3I/AAAAAAAAFzQ/3RKdPLuRacg/s
1600/john-kerry-pew.jpg>
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXq34iMAUCk/U4XOL1wGF3I/AAAAAAAAFzQ/3RKdPLuRacg/s1
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U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry
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