Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2015 01:22:13 +0100
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By Eritrean Communities in Europe
This document is prepared by Eritrean Communities in Europe to call the
European Union for positive engagement and meaningful partnership with
Eritrea. The Eritrean communities in Europe are a highly organised social
network comprising of first, second and third generation migrants who live
and make important contributions across the European member states. There
is a high concentration of Eritreans who hold the citizenship of Belgium,
Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom and also new arrival Eritreans who make up our communities.
This paper highlights the important issues that pre-occupies our
communities and also consists of current state of affairs that is
frequently distorted and misrepresented in the media and by some
organisations who recycle wrong information about Eritrea.
We are Certain the relevant authorities in European Union will heed our
call and take appropriate measures to serve the interest of both EU and
Eritrea.
for any comments on this document email : eriorganisations_at_googlegroups.com
*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 battle-hardened 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.
Continue reading:
Eritrea a Reliable Partner EU7
<https://www.scribd.com/doc/289372992/Eritrea-a-Reliable-Partner-EU7>
http://www.scribd.com/doc/289372992/Eritrea-a-Reliable-Partner-EU7#
file:///C:/Users/er-peace/Downloads/Eritrea%20a%20Reliable%20Partner%20EU%20German%20(1).pdf
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