From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Nov 26 2009 - 16:58:53 EST
A Number Of Countries Emerging As Competitive In The World Economy After The
End of the Cold War, President Isaias Says
Asmara, 26 November 2009 - President Isaias Afwerki said that new
opportunities are in the process of unfolding as regards relations among
states in the wake of the end of the Cold War era due to the emergence of
various countries as competitive in the world economy.
The President made the remarks in interview he conducted today with the
government-owned Rodina magazine published in the Russian Federation. He
noted that the People's Republic of China, India and Japan that have emerged
as competitive in the global economy are developing relations of partnership
with the African continent, and that Russia should engage in similar course
of action. Pointing out that relations between countries based on
partnership benefits the concerned parties, President Isaias explained in
detail the existing investment opportunities in Eritrea in which the Russian
Federation could avail itself.
Also in an interview he gave to the British magazine, Monocle, the President
highlighted the impressive achievements that Eritrea has registered after
independence through rehabilitating the war-devastated economy. In this
regard, he indicated that the nation has succeeded to put in place the best
infrastructure and service-rendering facilities, in comparison with other
countries in the region. Even more gratifying is the fact that Eritrea
pursues an independent policy, besides avoiding reliance on aid and striving
to achieve food security.
As regards the contribution of the National Service Program in the nation-
building process, President Isaias explained that it is essentially aimed at
rebuilding the war-devastated national economy. In this connection, he made
reference to the economic rehabilitation and recovery program undertaken in
Europe following the end of World War II.
http://www.shabait3.com/images/stories/president-with-british.jpgReplying to
a question regarding press freedom, the President underlined that in the
contemporary world it is impossible to hoodwink people in the name of press
freedom, and that the so-called free media outlets in the West are in
essence controlled and manipulated by intelligence agencies and special
interest groups. As such, they serve as tools of deception both to their
respective communities and that of the world through disseminating distorted
information, he emphasized. On the contrary, Eritrea possesses an
independent and responsible media that is not at all manipulated and
financed by intelligence agencies and special interest groups, President
Isaias underscored.
On the question of democracy, he elucidated that democracy is a means to
achieve societal goals and not a final objective in itself. There is no
place in Eritrea for the current notion of democracy in today's world which
only focuses on the surface images rather than the real content, the
President elaborated.
Replying to a question on how he prefers to spend his leisure, President
Isaias said that he enjoys reading, listening to music, doing artistic
works, watching documentaries and creative films, as well as following
sports programs and news broadcasts. He further indicated that he is a fan
of the Arsenal soccer team.
Asked whether there are people in Eritrea who could replace him as a leader,
the President replied: "Yes, there are 5 million of them."
As to the question of who his ideal model is, he explained that it is
misguided to ask people to choose one from a set of viewpoints and that
every individual has his/her own outstanding qualities and choices. It is
unreasonable to present people with a list of names and ask them to chose
one ideal model and idolize him/her, he underlined. "Even on a country
level, we neither require a role model nor do we want to be a model for
others. Every society in the world has administered itself on the basis of
one's own culture and realities, and thus can't be told who to emulate like
a child," President Isaias asserted.
Eritrea Considers India A Vital Partner For African And Eritrean
Development: President Isaias
Asmara, 26 November 2009: In an interview he conducted today with an
international magazine World Reflection, President Isaias Afwerki pointed
out that any political agenda or objective should strive to improve people's
lives. Indicating that countries cannot make much progress in isolation in
the 21st century, the President underlined the importance of putting in
place the necessary infrastructure so as to work for collective benefits and
facilitate regional cooperation as well as cultural, economic and social
links on a global scale. Noting that India has in the past 20 years made
fast progress in human resource and technological development, he expressed
Eritrea's desire to engage in cooperative relations with India in the area
of skills development and pointed out that India can make use of unexplored
investment opportunities in Eritrea in the domains of agriculture, mining,
tourism, fisheries and general manufacturing, among others.
Replying to a question regarding the ongoing nation building process,
President Isaias explained that creating social harmony among the society is
the basis for building a developed country and elucidated that owing to the
sense of national unity cultivated during the armed struggle for
independence, Eritrea has been able to create stable political grounds to
facilitate the nation-building process. He went on to highlight the progress
Eritrea has made in laying the basic infrastructural foundation so as to
utilize the country's resources for the benefit of citizens. "The ongoing
nation-building process is based on our realities and reflects our
aspirations and needs. None of our development projects are enforced from
the outside," he elaborated. Indicating that Eritrea does not accept the
various forms of pressure exerted by outside forces in the name of democracy
and good governance, President Isaias reminded that people in the developing
countries should have their own independent choices and that they should be
given the chance to solve their problems on their own terms.
Asked about the reason behind the low rate of crime and corruption in
Eritrea, the President stressed that corruption is one of the primary
factors that hinder progress and prosperity and that combating such social
ills is part of the nation's development strategy. Eritrea is working to
build a clean government and administration on a priority basis, he
asserted.
Regarding foreign aid, President Isaias pointed out that although the
objective of providing aid was initially for a constructive objective, it
has gradually been derailed to serve different political agendas. Citing the
experience of various countries in this regard, he underlined that Eritrea
does not need the kind of aid that encourages perpetual dependence and
eventually hinders the achievement of sustainable and lasting solution.
Moreover, in an interview he conducted with the Russian news agency
ITAR-TASS, President Isaias underscored that although Alexander Pushkin is
the product of Russian cultural and communal values, his literary works are
a source of pride for the entire people of the world. Noting the fact that
Pushkin's great-grandfather, originally from this region, was able to rise
to the level of a notable General in Russia is in itself a remarkable
achievement, the President reminded that erecting Alexander Pushkin's
monument in one place should not draw attention away from the global scope
of his contribution in the world of literature.
As regards the acts of piracy on Somali territorial waters and the Indian
Ocean and the counter measures being taken to address the problem, President
Isaias emphasized that piracy is not a cause but a consequence, and
underlined that deploying big naval warships cannot bring about a
sustainable solution but will on the contrary exacerbate the problem. Only a
political process that guarantees the participation of all Somalis leading
to the establishment of organized governmental institutions can effectively
address the issue of piracy, he emphasized.
On the Eritrean-Ethiopian border issue, President Isaias explained that the
Ethiopian government still occupies sovereign Eritrea territories despite
the fact that seven years have elapsed since the issue was given a legal
conclusion in accordance with international laws and the UN Charter. The
fact that Russia, being a permanent member of the Security Council,
continues to ignore such gross violation of law is indeed disappointing, the
President underscored.
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