http://www.raimoq.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Eritrea-a-Reliable-Partner-EU7.pdf
Executive Summary
Recently, the European Union and the Government of Eritrea
signed an agreement in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, to jointly fund a solar
energy facility in the Southern Region of Eritrea. This is the result of a long
engagement between the European Union and Eritrea and the expansion and
consolidation of their relations. Eritrea, despite all the hurdles thrown in
its path the last decade and half, has proven to be a reliable partner in
development, peace and security in the Horn of Africa. One could see this in
what happened during the post-independence years, from 1991 to 1998, the only
period in Eritrea’s modern history the nation was not a target of external
aggression--in the many constructive partnerships it established with the
United States, the European Union, and many other nations on issues ranging
from counterterrorism to peace-building, from regional cooperation and
integration to regional and international peace. Or, in the determined effort
the nation exerted in the fight against terrorism that was taking root in
neighboring Sudan where Osama bin Laden had set up shop to launch his global
criminal enterprise.
Unfortunately, many of these partnerships were put into
question when this young African nation in 1998 became the target of an
all-encompassing foreign aggression and a massive and well-funded
disinformation and defamation propaganda war. In fact, there was nothing that
was not tried to destabilize and marginalize the Red Sea nation the last decade
and half. These include the imposition of unjust sanctions in 2009 and 2011
based on fabricated charges. The action represented another chapter in a long
history of injustice against the people of Eritrea. U.S. foreign policy for the
Horn of Africa has been generally devoid of fairness and justice—always skewed
to favor Ethiopia, and always at the expense of the region in general, and
especially Eritrea and the Eritrean people in particular. Once again, Eritrea
has overcome these hurdles and has hit its stride.
Eritrea, with exemplary social cohesion and harmony among
its 50% Christian and 50% Moslem population and the experience, the
organizational capacity, a battlehardened and peacetime-tested leadership, has
the determination to play such a role. Eritrea’s more than 1000km Red Sea
coastline serves as a firewall against the spread of extremism and terrorism.
At a time when the Arc of Crisis, encompassing the Middle East and the Horn of
Africa, is in constant turmoil, with many once strong nations trying to prevent
total national collapse, Eritrea is enjoying relative peace and stability.
Eritrea’s outstanding achievements in other areas include the establishment of
a solid foundation for its economy, putting in place of a grass-roots
participative system of governance, making more strides in the empowerment of
women, and in the areas of human security, dignity and development.
The Eritrean economy, which its enemies expected to collapse
six months after they launched the 1998 border war, is on a launch pad poised
to take off. The peaceful, politically stable and corruption-free environment,
together with a liberal investment law and strong commitment by the government
to develop its nascent mining industry has attracted more than two dozen
companies from around the world. In the education sector, Eritrea is embarking
on an ambitious program to expand educational services to meet the
skilled-human power needs of the country and its economy. Kindergarten,
elementary, junior, secondary, as well as higher education is free for all
Eritreans. As a result, the growth of access to education in Eritrea since
independence has been truly remarkable.
At the time of Eritrea’s independence there was no
institution of higher learning. The only institution that existed in Eritrea,
the University of Asmara, was closed and dismantled by the Ethiopian military
government and moved to Southern Ethiopia by the late 1980s. Eritrea, today has
8 colleges in different parts of the country, accommodating the needs of about
17,000 Eritrean youth and graduating around 3,000 students every year. Between
2008 and 2012, these colleges graduated nearly 14,500 students with degree and
diploma.
The role of Eritrean women in the fight for and after
independence is nothing short of remarkable. They were integrated into the
ranks of the freedom fighters and fought alongside the men on the front lines.
They made up 30 percent of the country’s combat forces. The EPLF treated men
and women as equals; women served as platoon commanders, commandos, assault
troops, tank and truck drivers, mechanics and doctors. Since independence, they
have been on the forefront in the struggle to consolidate and broaden women’s
rights and develop the nation in all areas of Eritrea’s national life. Female
genital mutilation (FGM) is criminalized.
It is for these reasons that Eritrea is one of the few
African countries that have met MDG2 (Achieving universal primary education),
MDG3 (Gender equality and empowering women), MDG4 (Child Health) and MDG5
(Maternal Health), MDG6 (Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases), and
MDG7 (Ensuring environmental sustainability). The Africa Research Institute
says, “Eritrea is on track to achieving six of the eight UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).” As in all other sectors of development and like in
any other country, there are, however, numerous challenges and problems that
the Government continuously works to address. The Government of Eritrea is
committed to further consolidate and broaden the progress achieved in the
promotion and protection of human, social, political, and economic rights of
all its citizens.
Finally, looking through this window of achievements, the
future of this young nation looks very bright and promising. Eritrea will
liberate itself from poverty, ignorance, and other barriers to development. A
true partnership and engagement with the European Union will undoubtedly help
to bring on a meaningful change on the lives of Eritreans…..
Received on Tue Nov 10 2015 - 11:54:10 EST