Ethiopia/Eritrea: Press Briefing Notes - 24 Feb 2005

 COUNTDOWN TO FEB  23 2005

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA?

meskerem- 3-2-05:

Credibility of Unity Declarations  shuttered;  shocking revelation by the Afar movement

►The Red Sea Afar Democratic  Movement Chairman, Mr. Horoun, in interview conducted by the ECMS concerning  its agreement to be part of the ENSF (Eritrean National Salvation Front) stated that his  organization :

• never agreed to abandon its principle of the right to self determination up to secession
• never agreed to  merge with the other organizations
• on the contrary, the other organizations agreed to its demand to keep half of  "self-ruled" Afar state's wealth and give the other half to the central government  in a  post-Isayas Eritrea

   Reports  from Khartoum  have indicated that the Afar organization (and another organization,) the organization that believes the regime in Eritrea is a Christian-Tigrinya religo/ethnic government,  had allegedly threatened a walk-out  of the meeting should the section on ethnic self rule be removed from the charter. If this is true and such section is in the charter, many organizations will be in clear violations of their political programs enacted in their national congresses. One does not know whether to cheer for such sacrifices or be concerned of the precedence this creates.
  In other unity binge, the news that seven opposition organizations are in a marathon merger meeting to create one organization before the conclusion of the Khartoum meeting has become a puzzle in itself.  Kassel all over again?   Is there something that is out there that the public has not been privy to? 

Meskerem, ECMS 2-23-05:  EDA Khartoum meeting  starts as scheduled; Mr. Seyoum Harestay, ELF-RC chairman,  joins this second meeting of EDA..

Reports from Eritrean Arabic Media Center -ECMS and other sources  indicate that the much anticipated meeting of the EDA started on time with a welcome speech by Mr. Hussein Kalifa, the meeting chair and ELF vice-Chairman.  Present in this meeting,  for the first time,  is Mr. Seyoum Ogbamicael, the chairman of the ELF-RC. .

 Meskerem 2-22-05: Mesfin Hagos's meeting with the US government,  a positive move for the opposition. Observers agree that EDP Chairman  Mesfin Hagos' meeting with the US government, especially at this juncture,  is a political and diplomatic victory for the opposition and an encouragement  message to the Khartoum meeting. Although EDP refused to comment on whether Mr. Mesfin Hagos will share  with his comrades at the Feb  23 meeting  about his meeting with the US government, it would be a surprise if he does not.  It is to be remembered that  he has  already shared the information with the Eritrean public in his meetings with Eritrean in Washington DC.

Press Release 
By EDP Information Dept. - Published February 21, 2005 Eritrean Democratic Party’s leadership will attend the next meeting of the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) that is scheduled to start its second meeting on February 23, 2005 in Khartoum, Sudan. EDP's high level  delegation that is led by Mr. Mesfin Hagos, Chairman of the Party, is expected to arrive in Khartoum ,Sudan  today February 21,2005.

Mesfin Hagos to arrive in Sudan tomorrow, Monday 21, 2005
Meskerem 02-20-2005: Sources close to EDP have told meskerem that Mr. Mesfin Hagos, the Chairman of EDP will arrive in Khartoum, Sudan to attend the February 23 meeting of EDA.