From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Jul 22 2009 - 05:41:25 EDT
President Isaias Conducts Interview with International Media outlets
Written by Ministry of Information
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
President Isaias Afwerki conducted extensive interview with the Financial
Times newspaper, Channel 4 Television and The Guardian newspaper on the
objective situation in the country, as well as regional and international
issues.
In the interview mainly focusing on the internal political and economic
situation, the question of democracy, the situation in Somalia and the
region, and Eritrea's relations with the US and other western countries, the
President pointed out that the forces of monopoly are resorting to
continuous defamatory campaigns to tarnish Eritrea's image simply because it
refuses to bow down to western strategies. He indicated that although such
forces try to compel the country to conform to their erroneous policies as
regards the Somali issue, Eritrea continued to pursue strategies it deemed
correct, the validity of which is gradually becoming clear. Stating that
extensive smear campaign has been waged to isolate Eritrea just because it
did not parrot the futile utterances made by the previous US Administration,
President Isaias explained that the nation has not only upheld firmly its
stance and emerge victorious but has also never knelt down. In this
connection, he said that even those parties that used to belittle the
country's correct path have now begun to accept and respect it.
Replying to a question whether Eritrea is optimistic about the Obama
Administration, the President declared: "We don't basically live in mere
hope and expect miracles." He went on to say that fruitful outcome could
only be borne as long as hope and work correspond with each other.
Unrealistic hope, empty expectations and daydreaming have never been
Eritrea's political culture, the President elaborated.
Also in a reply he gave to a question whether the country would strive to
normalize relations with the US, President Isaias underscored that it is the
US Administration itself that ought to improve relations with Eritrea as the
latter has done nothing to compromise the relation in the first place.
The President went on to explain that the real meaning of democracy as far
as Eritrea is concerned is ensuring the active participation of the entire
people in all political, social, economic and cultural aspects of the
country. He also dismissed those who portray themselves as democrats by
staging elections in which only 18% or 20% of the population participate.
Moreover, President Isaias noted that a leader who is willing to deposit
millions of dollars in Swiss banks by allowing western companies and
investors to amass millions of dollars by suppressing and exploiting his own
people might be considered as a democrat by certain quarters. The President
asserted that Eritrea has embarked on a political, social and economic
process that ensures social justice and equitable allocation of resources.
As regards the National Service Program, President Isaias stated: "How could
those that declared national service to invade another country's territory
be surprised if we launched the national service program to safeguard the
nation's sovereignty as a result of their aggression." Pointing out that
they are committing a grave crime by propagating that the young Eritrean
generation has failed to hold up Eritrean past tradition, he indicated that
the Eritrean youth is not only the pride and dignity of the nation but is
also making history. As such, the campaign is part of the weakening ploys
designed to frustrate the youth, the President emphasized.
In view of the fact that Eritrea's economy depends on its own internal
resources and particularly its human capacity while avoiding aid and
handouts, President Isaias underscored that the country's economy has not
been greatly affected by the current economic meltdown. In this respect, he
explained that the Eritrean economy is anchored on creating an atmosphere
where the entire population leads similar pattern of living, rather than one
that benefits only the privileged few.
Pointing out that Eritrea has been able to secure a promising future by
pursuing pragmatic development projects, President Isaias underscored that
there is no place in Eritrea for extreme gap of income among citizens and
that equal distribution of resources has been selected as the basic approach
of economic development. He also added that the fact that Eritreans residing
abroad do their best to support family members in the homeland is based on
the aforementioned mentioned political culture that was cultivated during
the struggle period.
Indicating that the shortage of hard currency during these times of economic
crisis is only natural, President Isaias explained that the important point
is not whether one has or does not have a surplus of foreign exchange but
rather to what purpose those funds are employed. " We are at present
investing our limited resources in developmental infrastructure, food
security and social service projects, firmly believing that our efforts
today will afford us a better future tomorrow," he added.
Concerning the allegations that 'Eritrea is facing hard currency shortage
because it is purchasing arms', the President emphasized that Eritrea has
never put its faith in the power of arms. He further pointed out that if
weapons had the power to decide the fate of a war, the Eritrean people, with
their limited resources would never have stood a chance against the massive
forces of superpowers. He once again emphasized that Eritrea's philosophies
and principles are not based on the use of arms but rather on resilient
human resources and a just cause.
On the issue of NGOs, President Isaias explained that Eritrea was in the
right indeed in calling for these organizations, which are flocking to
Africa in hoards and endeavoring to replace governments, to make their
agendas clear. " These so-called NGOs were not only cultivating
aid-dependency and corruption but also squandering away billions of dollars
collected in the name of disadvantaged masses without any accountability.
Hence we made it clear that we would no longer tolerate and turn a blind eye
on these immoral practices," he further indicated. The President went on to
elaborate that Eritrea has since the early 1990s believed that putting an
end to the donor-receiver relationship and instead cultivating development
partnership would create better grounds for developing nations to avoid
dependency and sustain themselves. Stating that the UNMEE was a good example
of an NGO, President Isaias pointed out that during its stay in Eritrea,
UNMEE expended more than one billion dollars among its initially 5,000 and
later 2,000 members, for which they have yet be held accountable.
In answering questions regarding regional issues, President Isaias said that
talking about irrelevant issues by putting aside the core issue as regards
Somalia would not at all bring about comprehensive and lasting political
solution to the problem.
Indicating that the basic solution lies in ensuring the reconstitution of
Somalia that could be achieved through a protracted political and inclusive
process, he pointed out that it is not understandable why the regional and
international organizations which claim that they are concerned with
Somalia, as well as the peace and stability of the Horn region are
disregarding this basic issue. In this respect, President Isaias underlined
that genuine solution could only be achieved if only a chance is given to
the Somali people to resolve their issue themselves and set up a government
of their own choice.
The President further explained that the attempt being made to link the
Somali popular opposition with terrorism and Al-Qaeda is but baseless and
unrealistic. As there are terrorists and Al-Qaeda in different parts of the
world, it shouldn't be surprising to witness such activities in a stateless
and defenseless country like Somalia, he added. President Isaias underlined
that the aforementioned allegations would only further complicate the
prevailing problem and delay a solution.
Noting that governments imposed from the outside and the continued external
interferences are dangerous approaches that are only exacerbating the
problem and further fomenting division, the President underscored that
Eritrea firmly opposes such uncivilized practices, and that it has never
provided military, political or diplomatic support for one group against
another.
Regarding the two French security officials recently abducted in Somalia, he
explained that aside from what is being hyped in the media, there exists no
clear information as to why these officials were in Somalia, who abducted
them and their whereabouts. In relation with this, President said that it is
astonishing why the French government made such an intervention and that
this issue has provoked a lot of questions.
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