From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Aug 17 2009 - 13:44:15 EDT
Eritrea: Committed Endeavors Towards Regional Peace and Stability
By Staff
Aug 15, 2009, 06:47
Stability and progress or turmoil and degradation are not phenomenons that
remain limited within the borders of one given nation, for they have broad
implication on the peace and development of the respective region.
Consequently, making one's own contribution towards the peace and stability
of neighboring peoples as well as that of the whole world is the guiding
principle of any prudent and judicious people and government.
Being able to maintain its internal security and peace in the midst of a
region embroiled in conflicts and wars, Eritrea is an oasis of stability in
the middle of unrelenting turmoil. Nonetheless, fully aware that Eritrea's
hard-earned peace and stability can be secured further only when neighboring
peoples achieve similar stability, the Eritrean government continues to
pursue a constructive engagement in an effort to establish comprehensive
peace in the Horn region.
Closing the chapter on the brutal oppression of the Eritrean people under
successive Ethiopian regimes, the Government of Eritrea sought to pursue
good neighborly relations with the people of Ethiopia. To this end, the
Eritrean government not only gave Ethiopia free access to its ports but also
pushed for the establishment of an administrative system that guaranteed the
participation of all nationalities in that country. However, in complete
contrast to the Eritrean government's good intentions, the TPLF regime chose
to divide the Ethiopian people along ethnic lines, effectively thwarting the
opportunity for cultivating good neighborly relations. The backward and
narrow mindset of the regime victimized the Ethiopian people, disrupted the
stability of neighboring states and escalated turmoil in the whole region.
Still, the Eritrean government will continue its constructive efforts until
the Ethiopian people are relieved from the oppressive regime and can
experience peace and stability.
Moreover, believing that peace in the Sudan is in the interest of the people
of the entire region, the Eritrean government has been making and continues
to make tireless contribution towards the establishment of comprehensive
peace in that country.
It is to be recalled that the basic principles within the Naivasha Agreement
came from the 'Asmara Declaration', drafted in Eritrea in 1994. The
agreement reached between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the
Eastern Sudan front is another example of the Eritrean government's
commitment. Moreover, the positive role Eritrea played in reconciling the
disagreement between the Government of Djibouti and the Djibouti Front for
Unity and Democracy (FRUD), bringing stability to Yemen following the civil
war in 1991, the 1994 Rwandan genocide and alleviating the problems that
arose in the Big Lakes region in 1996 are some of its significant
contributions. Contrary to the negative interventions by various external
forces in Somalia in the past 18 years, Eritrea's genuine and neutral
support to the cause of a national reconciliation in Somalia is one of the
fines chapters in the history of the Horn region.
As part of its endeavors to secure peace and stability in the region,
Eritrea called for the reorganization of the IGAD so as to broaden its
objectives and make tangible contribution to development of the region.
However, due to the TPLF regime's continued conspiracies and open invasions,
IGAD has yet to become an effective organization.
While making significant contributions towards regional peace and stability
in the years after independence, Eritrea at the same time had face and
overcome the complicating interventions of external forces. All the
destruction and complications in this region are mainly a result of the
external interventions and the negative role of the agents enlisted to serve
their interests. Hence, all the political forces in our region need to be
aware of this basic fact. Recognizing that being an agent for those forces
responsible for the plight of our region is the height of moral deprivation;
all political forces should endeavor to create an environment that
guarantees peace and prosperity in the region. Only such an outlook could
ultimately enable the peoples of our region to embark on political and
economic harmony and achieve prosperity.
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