|
 We
can say that we have successfully implemented programmes on
food security and may have reached a level where we do not
need any food aid from outside |
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 ASMARA,
12 October 2007 (IRIN) - IRIN interviewed President Isaias
Afewerki in Asmara, on 1 October. Eritrea and the Horn of
Africa in general remain chronically vulnerable in
humanitarian terms due to drought, conflict and poverty.
Q: Is your government concerned
that the current
situation may lead to direct
military confrontation?
A: You mean between Eritrea and Ethiopia, well we don’t need
any confrontation. We have our right to self-defence. We have
been committed to our legal obligations as far as the border
is concerned. As I indicated earlier, we will abide by the
letter and spirit of the agreement. We have politically and
legally struggled to see implementation of the decision
through demarcation. Unfortunately that has not been the case.
We continue to struggle on that line. .. |
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Tiny Eritrea turns down aid in bold quest for
self-reliance
Boston Globe
Thu,
11 Oct 2007 3:31 AM PDT
ASMARA, Eritrea - This struggling nation is doing
something virtually unheard of in Africa: It's turning down
foreign aid.
..But can Eritrea's government fill the
void without an increase in hunger and disease?
..The
self-reliance program began a decade ago but accelerated
sharply in 2005. Relying on its meager budget and the
conscription of about 800,000 of its 3.6 million citizens, the
program has shown promising results. Measured on a variety of
UN health indicators, including life expectancy,
immunizations, and malaria prevention, Eritrea scores as high,
and often higher, than its neighbors, including Ethiopia and
Kenya.
..Measles and polio have been nearly eradicated in the past
two years, and the childhood mortality rate has dropped by
nearly two-thirds since 1995. |
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Ethiopia, Eritrea Tensions Rise - Restraint UrgedFriday,
12 October 2007, 8:22 am
Press Release: United Nations
Ban Ki-moon
urges restraint by Ethiopia and Eritrea as tensions rise
..He also urged them to facilitate the
implementation of the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia
Boundary Commission (EEBC) regarding the demarcation of their
border. In 2002 the Commission handed down a final and binding
decision awarding Badme, the town that triggered fighting
between the two countries from 1998 to 2000, to Eritrea.
..Of particular concern are "recent shooting
incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in
the border area," according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's
spokesperson.
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Ethiopia threatens Eritrea with
pre-emptive strike
..08 Oct 2007 15:29:46 GMT Source:
Reuters
 ...Girma
Wolde-Giorgise, whose six-year term expires this month, said
Eritrea was training and deploying terrorists to destabilise
Ethiopia, forcing Addis Ababa to take pre-emptive steps and
make ready their defences.
..Asmara says Addis Ababa should accept the 2002 ruling, and
accuses the international community of unfairly siding with
Ethiopia for geo-political reasons.
Analysts and diplomats say neither country really wants to go
to war, in spite of the inflammatory rhetoric on both sides.
But they worry an unplanned skirmish could trigger conflict. |
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