Eritrea’s foreign policy strategy anchored on serving mutual benefit:
President Isaias
Asmara, 25 September 2012 – In an interview he conducted today with the
leading Egyptian magazine, Al-Siyasa Al-Dewliya, President Isaias Afwerki
underlined that Eritrea’s foreign policy strategy is anchored on serving
mutual benefit.
In the interview focusing on the nation-building process, regional and
international developments, Eritrea’s relations with the countries of the
Horn of Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the situation
as regards regional and international organizations, the President
underscored the dangerous consequence of trying to draw benefit at the cost
of others. He further pointed out that the prevailing problems and conflict
situations in various regions are the direct consequence of such
self-centered exploitative stance, and that Eritrea pursues a strategy aimed
at promoting mutual respect, complementarity and cooperation with all
countries.
Replying to a question regarding Eritrea’s relations with Egypt and Somalia
and future prospects in light of the new developments, President Isaias
indicated that it is not Eritrea’s political tradition to relate issues with
change of individuals and governments, and that the existing problems in
this region are but the consequence of external political and military
interferences. In this connection, he cited the Somali and Sudanese issues,
and explained that the historical ties among peoples and nations is a
lasting phenomenon as ample experience has been acquired vis-à-vis the
growing peoples’ consciousness over the past 20 years that witnessed
external acts of interference and their obstructionist aftermath.
President Isaias went on to elaborate that Egypt’s role in Africa and the
Arab world has been weakened over the past 30 years due to its
North-oriented stance, and thereby giving rise to negative consequences in
the region as a whole. In this connection, he pointed out that it would take
time to diagnose whether or not the country would assume its former stature,
taking into account the existing state of affairs.
In this connection, the President underlined the paramount importance of an
Egypt that ensures independent policy that serves mutual interest, in
addition to giving priority to the interest of its people and the region as
a whole, and thus retrieve lost opportunities.
Regarding security in the Red Sea region and the role of neighboring states,
President Isaias elucidated that no country in the region can ensure
security of the zone all by itself as its waterway is of top strategic
importance both at the regional and international level, and that it is a
prerequisite on the part of all the littoral states to vigorously oppose
external interference, in addition to fostering relations of partnership.
Moreover, he emphasized the need for these countries to put in place the
necessary mechanism at the economic, security, investment and infrastructure
level to this end.
Indicating that the countries of the Red Sea region jointly possess the
capacity of ensuring security in the zone exceeding that of any foreign
country, President Isaias called on the nations of the region to foster
cooperation and working in unison so as to achieve the cherished goal.
On Eritrean-Qatari relations, he said that it is both strategic and based on
correct appraisal of issues, as well as continued consultations and respect
to political options and stances. The President further explained that Qatar
takes a part in investment opportunities in Eritrea, as do Canada, China and
other nations.
Also replying to a question pertaining to changes being witnessed in the
Arab countries, President Isaias noted that it is not proper to explain such
a phenomenon from the standpoint of a single context, and that people in
different parts of the world are drawing vital experience from such changes.
In this regard, he underscored that it is not in the political tradition of
the Government of Eritrea to assess developments within the context of
apparent semblances but rather from the standpoint of sober analysis.
