Eritrea: Land of National Service: A tool Can-Do People! for Economic ERI-NEWS Development, National (Yikealo! kikewn eyu Cohesion and the kemey zeykewn! ) Defence of Sovereignty Bi-Weekly Newsletter Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU and UNECA Press Section th Eritrea Participated in the 18 COMESA Summit Vol 2. Issue 30 The 18 th Summit of the Heads of State The Summit noted that annual intra- 03 April 2015 and Government of the Common Mar- COMESA trade which stood at USD ket for Eastern and Southern Africa 3.1 billion in 2000, when the CO- Inside this issue: (COMESA) was convened in Addis MESA Free Trade Area was launched, Ababa, Ethiopia, on 30 and 31 March grew seven-fold by 2014 to USD 22.4 Ministry of Foreign 2015. The Summit was held under the billion. Affairs of the State theme “ Inclusive and Sustainable of Eritrea 2 Industrialization .” Press Statement on Eritrea’s Stance on the Situation in Yemen Eritrea’s Achieve- ments on Gender 3 Equality Applauded at a UN Side Event The Summit was preceded by the The Summit endorsed the COMESA meetings of COMESA Policy Organs Industrialization Policy, considered at the level of experts, senior officials the reports of the COMESA Organs and Ministers which took place from and autonomous institutions and gave 18-29 March. directions on the way forward. The Summit also reviewed the state of peace and security in the COMESA region, and appointed new Judges of Contact Addresses: the COMESA Court of Justice, Com- Tel: +251-116620052 missioners of the COMESA Competi- Fax:+251-116620011 Email:eritreanaumission@ tion Commission, and members of the gmail.com Committee of Elders. P.o.Box: 5527 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Eritrea was represented at the Summit The 19th COMESA Summit will be Eritrean Mission to and the preparatory meetings by its held in Madagascar in 2016. AU& ECA Permanent Mission to the AU and UN- ECA. @EritreaAU Vol 2. Issue 30, 03 April 2015 Page 2 Eri-News Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea Press Statement on Eritrea’s Stance on the Situation in Yemen In the past few days, various media outlets have Eritrea is aware that these allegations are deliber- been alluding to statements made by certain Yem- ately and solely peddled for purposes of defama- eni authorities and other fabricated accounts to tion. falsely assert that "Houthi insurgents have received weapons from Iran via Eritrea". 5. Eritrea maintains that the "statements made by Yemeni officials in the past few days" are part and Eritrea has naturally been monitoring the allega- parcel of ongoing smear campaigns, essentially tions peddled on the "existence of Israeli bases" in concocted by certain intelligence agencies, and Eritrea in past years. These baseless stories were that are routinely conducted to sully the image of spiced up recently with new claims of juxtaposed Eritrea especially in the Arab world. "Iranian bases" in the country. Eritrea knows full well the sources, identities and purveyors of these 6. Eritrea is keenly aware that insidious regurgitation worn-out invectives. Sadly, these allegations have of these baseless allegations as "established facts" been ratcheted up this week - unwittingly or for by various news agencies, newspapers and jour- other ulterior political motives - by so-called ex- nals is primarily designed to negatively influence perts and government officials. public opinion in the Arab world. In the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 7. As it may be recalled, the Ministry of Foreign State of Eritrea reiterates the following to clarify its Affairs of the State of Eritrea had summoned stance on the events unfolding in Yemen. early this week, Yemen's Chargé d'affaires to re- quest an explanation of the statements made by Yemeni authorities. The Yemeni diplomat flatly 1. Eritrea remains profoundly concerned by the ag- refuted these statements as untrue further disclos- gravation and complication of the situation in ing that the Yemeni Embassy in Asmara did not Yemen. In this regard, Eritrea hopes that under- receive calls and queries from any media outlet or lying causes of the prevailing situation would be other interested party to ascertain Yemen's posi- allayed to restore prevalent peace and stability in tion. the country. 8. Eritrea does not allow its islands, ports and terri- 2. The maintenance of peace and security in Yemen tory for lease or sale. Eritrea reiterates that it is is of paramount importance to Eritrea; more so indeed the only country in the region which has than any other country. This is predicated on the not opened its doors for external intervention or historical and good neighborly ties that exist be- military bases since its independence. tween Eritrea and Yemen and between their brotherly peoples. 9. Eritrea does not subscribe to polarizing policies of 3. military alliances and blocs. As such it neither en- Eritrea unequivocally supports the territorial in- dorses nor joins such groupings. Consequently, it tegrity of Yemen and the unity of its people. In has no membership in associations of this nature. this vein, Eritrea only recognizes and accepts a constituational and legal leadership of Yemen. 10.Eritrea affirms that its doors are open for any news media in the Arab world that wishes to as- 4. Eritrea rejects, for the umpteenth time, all false certain the veracity of these allegations repeated allegations on the military presence of Iranian, ad nauseam . These can be easily secured by re- Houthi, Israeli or any other external power in its questing an entry visa to the country at the nearest sovereign territories; land and/or maritime. Eritrean Embassy. Vol 2. Issue 30, 03 April 2015 Page 3 Eri-News Press Statement on Eritrea’s Stance on the Situation in Yemen... (Continued from page 2) 11. As a country that has the longest coastline rela- with all littoral States in order to cultivate a clear tive to other littoral States, Eritrea's stance on and common understanding on the security of the the security of the Red Sea is firm and robust. Red Sea. The regional and international importance of the Red Sea is indeed too palpable to merit empha- Ministry of Foreign Affairs sis. As such, Eritrea affirms that it has been and 31st March 2015 shall remain engaged in continuous consultation Asmara Eritrea’s Achievements on Gender Equality Applauded at a UN Side Event less”. Ms. Umutoni also emphasized her assessment that when compared to many other civil society or- ganizations from her vast experiences, the National Union of Eritrean Women is one of the most effective community movements with a high level of account- ability and efficiency. Speaking on the occasion, the keynote speaker, Ms. Tekea Tesfamichael, the President of the National Union of Eritrean Women, stressed the fact that the Eritrean women earned their rightful place in the society through active participation and contribu- tion to the struggle for national independence and A side-event was co-organized by the Permanent nation-building efforts. She noted that the Union has Mission of Eritrea to the UN and the United Nations been studiously working over the past two decades of Country Team under the theme “Empowering independence to ensure the socio-cultural, economic Women: Eritrea’s Achievements and Experience” and political empowerment of women through vari- during the 59th Session of the Commission on ous innovative projects and gender mainstreaming in Status of Women in New York on the 16 March government institutions. She appealed to the partici- 2015, with a full house participation of representa- pants to urge Ethiopia to withdraw from sovereign tives of states, UN Agencies and civil society or- Eritrean territory, including the town of Badme, ganizations. and the UN Security Council to lift the unjustified sanctions that are negatively affecting women and In his opening remarks the co-moderator, Ambassa- children. dor Girma Asmerom, Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations, underlined the con- The guest speaker, Ms. Christine Musisi, Regional textual premise to understanding Eritrea must be Director of the UN Women, applauded the progress based on its strategic location, abundant natural re- made in status of women in Eritrea through initia- sources, and the “ yes I/we can do it ” mindset and tives such as land ownership legislation for harmony of its 50% Christian and 50% Muslim women, ensuring education of girls, especially population. among the nomadic population, the criminaliza- tion of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as well The co-moderator, Ms. Christine Umutoni, UN as the successful multi-sectorial approach on ad- Resident Coordinator, summarized that the UN wit- dressing gender equality. nessed Eritrea’s ability to “do for more with Vol 2. Issue 30, 03 April 2015 Page 4 Eri-News Eritrea’s Achievements on Gender Equality Applauded at a UN Side Event… (Continued from page 3) Ms. Raquel Lagunas, UNDP Policy Advisor on Dr. Dan Odallo, UNFPA Representative in Eritrea, Gender, emphasized UNDP’s commitment to in- elaborating on the experience of development partners crease and expand its partnership with NUEW. She in the country, said “Eritrea’s success is attributed stated that the vast membership of NUEW and its to the partnership between the government, UN effective implementation of programs give it full Team and the NUEW that is based on clearly de- legitimacy to be the lead organization on gender fined objectives and outcomes as well as vision.” equality issues. She commended the grass-roots and He further stated having worked in many countries, in community approach and legislative process that his experience, “ Eritrea stands number one in ef- took place when the FGM was criminalized in fective community participation.” Dr.