Eritrean President Discusses Path to Development
Peter Clottey
May 18, 2012
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki calls the country's development drive
over two decades of independence "a success story."
"We have achieved a lot, and our culture has helped us a lot to create an
environment for sustainable development," he told VOA in an exclusive
interview ahead of the 21st anniversary of his country's independence on May
24.
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki interviewed by reporter Peter Clottey
(17May2012)
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"Our main objective for the last 21 years was to create an environment for
real independence. We have put the flag we took 21 years ago on a very solid
ground," said Isaias. The major achievement, he emphasized, was the
creation of a "solid foundation" for Eritrea's development.
Speaking from the presidential palace in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, Mr.
Isaias said his country was faced with what he called "subjective internal
and external challenges" shortly after gaining independence. He said the
country's leadership had to struggle to meet public demands for development
after decades of protracted fighting. Among the top tasks were ensuring
food security, building up destroyed infrastructure, as well as providing
safe drinking water and improved transportation.
The real challenge, he said, was resources: "You may aspire to achieve some
goals, but definitely you need some resources to do that" he said, adding,
"that was really serious for us."
"The external challenge was so many problems - regional, international
problems even in terms of implementing programs. The disparity of our
approach to addressing issues, for example, do we go for [foreign] aid to
build our economy and build a capacity for sustainable growth, or find our
own ways of doing that... [this], in spite of the security challenge we have
faced over the last 15 or so years, which has been a learning experience for
us."
Aid and development
Eritrea's economy has grown, despite poor relations with Ethiopia, once a
primary trading partner. The International Monetary Fund's latest World
Economic Outlook predicted Eritrea's GDP to grow over seven percent this
year.
Health care has also improved.
<
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/womenempowerment/successst
ories/eritrea_reducingmaternaldeath/> The UN Development Program says
Eritrea is one of four African countries likely to reduce maternal mortality
by three-quarters by 2015.
For government supporters, this is evidence that the administration has been
able to meet the needs of its citizens, including improved infrastructure,
food security, and transportation, without any foreign "handouts."
President Isaias said with improved capacity building, the country is
working to break what he called the cycle of over-dependence on aid.
<
http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-eritrea> Human
Rights Watch says since independence, the country has received modest
amounts of financial support from China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran,
Qatar and until the overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi, Libya.
HRW says Asmara continues to accept UN funding for health, sanitation and
safe-water projects, though it has ended its relationship with the World
Bank.
<
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2854.htm> The U.S. State Department web
page notes that the Eritrean government requested an end to bilateral
assistance from the U.S. However, it notes U.S. interests include
encouraging Eritrea to contribute to regional stability, and to develop a
democratic political culture and promote economic reform.
Criticisms
Critics say the ideals that galvanized Eritreans to fight for their freedom,
which ultimately led to the country's independence 21 years ago, are yet to
be realized.
Last year,
<
http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/crisis_horn_of_africa>
Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson, called Eritrea, "a repressive
regime [that] fails to provide data on the humanitarian needs of its own
people." He called on the government to cooperate with the UN agencies and
other international organizations to address hunger.
Human Rights Watch says in 2009, Isaias told the UN Children's fund that
Eritrea was suffering from famine though the government officially denied
food shortages.
But Isaias disagrees with these criticisms.
"This is an insult to my intelligence. I am a product of the process I
lived, and I have developed my own thinking in these practical processes in
that environment.These are stereotypes for people who live in the unreal
world who think other people don't have heads and don't think. They
categorize people in groups," he said.
He said the experience and values Eritreans have shared over the years binds
citizens together.
Priority is development, not democracy
Observers say the suspension of Eritrea's constitution thwarted the
country's march towards democracy. The document, which was introduced 15
years ago and ratified in 2002, has not been fully implemented. The
president exercises legislative as well as executive powers.
President Isaias attributed the suspension of the constitution to what he
calls external interference. He also stated that embracing the "so-called"
tenets of democracy is not a priority of Eritrea. He said development is
the government's priority, not democracy.
"Because of these continuous external interventions, we have to do first
things first... It's not an immediate concern at the moment.I will say our
number one priority on the level of the continent is to free ourselves from
trying to show and please these guys who are taking us for puppet, toys, or
masters of today," he said.
Isaias said the reality of the country dictates what needs to be done,
irrespective of criticisms that he wants to be president for life.
"The same people who are making the lives of these people and the people in
Ethiopia difficult, who are trying to find pretext and try to raise issues
irrelevant so as to distract us from focusing on the real issues. My person
is not an issue.it's more of an issue for the opportunities of the people of
this country and the people of our neighbors. That's the real issue,"
continued Mr. Isaias.
"These are part of the agenda. They have in their basket a number of issues
they try to continue to harass and border us on these issues so that we will
be distracted from doing our job.If you try to distract me from real issues,
I will say you are wasting your time."
Press freedom
Observers say the Eritrea government has been repressive and brutal,
clamping down on dissent, including the imprisoning without trial of
journalists critical of the administration.
Human Rights Watch says in Eritrea, up to 10,000 may be jailed for political
dissent, including military service evaders and deserters. It says the
private press was banned over 10 years ago, and says over 20 prominent
journalists and critics have been held since then incommunicado.
But Isaias said the accusations are non-issues, stating that his government
is not interested in blocking people from expressing their views. He said
Eritreans at home or abroad are the best judges of the situation on the
ground. He said those opposed to his government seem to have easy media
access in which to criticize the administration abroad.
He said his government reserves the right to protect its citizens,
especially when foreigners give money to Eritreans to destabilize the
country.
"When a foreign intelligence agency is buying hearts with money - recruiting
people to do sabotage - definitely national security becomes an issue. That
is not an option. Any attempt from outside to sabotage or do harm to the
people of this country, I have a responsibility to take action against those
who want to harm the people, not against those who are speaking. Those who
are speaking can go ahead and make the loud noise. People are immune now,"
he said.
Mr. Isaias said his government has now chosen to ignore Eritreans, in the
country as well as in the Diaspora, who he said collect payments from
foreign intelligence agencies to misrepresent the country.
Eritrea and Ethiopia relations
Asmara and Addis Ababa continue to engage in frosty diplomatic and
bilateral relations, despite, according to observers, shared goals to
benefit the lives of their peoples.
The two countries have been involved in a border dispute, despite a United
Nations-backed arbitration commission that awarded the Badme area to
Eritrea. Asmara has often criticized Addis Ababa for its continued refusal
to implement the border commission's ruling.
President Isaias said the two neighboring countries could have resolved
their differences devoid of what he called external influence and
interference in the region.
"We could have fostered solid relations with Ethiopia.What concerns anyone
is the opportunity we have lost. And who has created this crisis? It's not
the government of Ethiopia alone. The government of Ethiopia because of its
internal problems, may have tried to benefit from this crisis," he said.
In March, Ethiopia attacked Eritrean army outposts along the border. Addis
Ababa said the assault was in retaliation for the training and support given
by Asmara to subversives. Eritrea says the US knew of the attacks, an
accusation denied by US officials.
"The problem is for the United States government that has intervened
continually, without any justifiable reason, legal or political, to keep us
hostage to this crisis and to this border conflict. We are saying leave us
alone. We would like to build on our future without your interference and
this border problem is resolved. "
Regional cooperation
Eritrea suspended its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development, a group of six eastern African countries focused on drought
control and development initiatives, after raising concerns about Ethiopia's
role in Somalia. Asmara has since reapplied to have its membership
reinstated.
The sub-regional bloc has been making efforts to resolve security challenges
in the area including cross border violence allegedly perpetrated by the
Somali-based hardline Islamic insurgent group, al-Shabab.
In his interview with VOA, President Isaias called for a collaborative
effort among IGAD member states to ensure peace and stability in the Horn of
Africa region. He vowed Eritrea will continue making its contributions to
help IGAD realize its aspirations, which he said could lead to strengthened
bilateral and diplomatic relations among member states.
"Imagine an ideal situation, where a group of heads of state discuss among
themselves. and they have arrived at a consensus, through an exhaustive and
constructive discussions through a structure and consolidate their ideas in
a document and finally creating an organizational set up for that. I think
this is the only healthy way for us to regain lost opportunities and look
forward to a promising future," he said.
Mr. Isaias called on other heads of states not to be bogged down by what he
called endless conflicts.
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Received on Sun May 20 2012 - 15:17:46 EDT
