From: Tricia Redeker Hepner (redekert@msu.edu)
Date: Mon Sep 11 2000 - 10:16:39 EDT
Conference Announcement
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ASMARA, ERITREA
JULY 22-26, 2001
After some indeterminate period due to the recent conflict, a decision has been reached that the proposed international conference, marking the 10th anniversary of Eritrea's independence will be held in Asmara, Eritrea during July 22-26, 2001.
As many will recall, at its 1997 annul meeting in Columbus, Ohio, the Eritrean Studies Association (ESA) gave a mandate to initiate contacts and plans to hold a conference in Eritrea as soon as possible. After a communication hiatus of some time, the topic was raised again last year at the annual meeting in Philadelphia and a planning committee was established. Following several exchanges and meetings among members of ESA, both in and outside of Eritrea, the final and conclusive meeting was held on Sunday, August 14, 2000, during the annual festival in Washington D.C.
At that meeting, Ato Alemseged Tesfay, the Chair of the ESA-Eritrea branch, briefed attendants of the views and hopes of the ESA membership inside Eritrea. Following a detailed and considering the pros and cons, the participants agreed on the indicated dates, immediately preceding the annually held Festival in Asmara. It was concluded that the timing was appropriate, given the symbolic importance of the event on the 10th anniversary of Eritrea's liberation which has been severely tested in the past two years. Holding the conference the week preceding the Annual Festival is hoped will attract more participants from outside as well as contribute to the spirit of cultural, economic, and scholarly display of Eritrean productive undertakings.
The leading sponsors of the Conference are the ESA, the University of Asmara, and the Research and Documentation Center (RDC) in Asmara. However, we desire the conference to be a truly international endeavor of both Eritrean and non-Eritrean organizations and individuals. To that end, the involvement and full participation of additional organizations and individuals is encouraged, and will be fully recognized.
In a few days, we will be posting more details of the conference, includingthe theme, committee assignments and critical deadlines. Meanwhile, we urge you to volunteer for membership in committees of your preferred areas of participation and contribution by contacting either one of us at the addresses indicated below.
Planning Committee:
Yacob Fisseha, yfisseha@msu.edu
Gebre H. Tesfagiorgis, Gebretes@iastate.edu
Alemseged tesfai, alem@eol.com.er
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Tricia Redeker Hepner
Doctoral Student, Anthropology
Michigan State University