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Meeting of Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers Opens in Massawa

Written by Administrator

Monday, 24 September 2007

Massawa, 24 September 2007 - The Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers opened its regular meeting in the port city of Massawa today. The meeting held extensive discussions on a working paper presented by President Isaias Afwerki regarding Eritrea’s national security strategy, political and security developments in the region, and the possible short and long-term impacts.

The President’s working paper primarily focuses on the latest political and security developments in the Horn of Africa, including future prospects and Eritrea’s role. In the extensive briefings he gave to the Ministerial Cabinet meeting, President Isaias highlighted the TPLF regime’s invasion of Somalia and its utter failure. He also underlined that the invasion has further aggravated the already deteriorating situation in the Horn of Africa, thus pushing the situation into a dangerous path. The President further explained that in view of the fact that such developments have exposed the TPLF regime to serious insecurity, the US Administration, in collaboration with certain countries in the region, is currently engaged in clandestine attempts to find a way out of the crisis caused by the pursuit of a wrong policy.

President Isaias noted that the futile attempts made by the TPLF and its collaborators to subdue the Somali people’s efforts to reconstitute their nation had, on the contrary, rallied the Somalis to fight together in defense of their legitimate cause. In this regard, he underscored that the mounting popular opposition against the invading forces in Mogadishu and other areas, as well as the holding of the Somali Congress for Liberation and Reconstitution in Asmara, fully attests to the failure of the strategy pursued by external forces.

The President went on to say that the Government of Eritrea would, as ever, continue its endeavors towards promoting a comprehensive peaceful solution to the Somali issue. He added that Eritrea would cooperate with all the parties genuinely seeking to bring about a solution.

In reference to the situation in Ethiopia, the President stated that the TPLF regime not only finds itself amid strong popular opposition inside the country but is also exposed to further crisis as a result of the failure it encountered in Somalia following the invasion. As a result, the regime has turned Ethiopia into a police state, the President further explained, and laid bare the regime’s acts of genocide being perpetrated against the population of Ogaden.

Moreover, President Isaias referred to the TPLF regime’s desperate acts of jamming Eritrean media outlets starting from last week, which on the one hand demonstrates the regime’s state of hopelessness, and the truth, credibility, as well as positive impact of Eritrean media channels.

The President indicated that, in a bid to save the TPLF regime from demise, external parties are extending massive all-round assistance. He stressed that as this would not bring peace at all, these same parties, especially the US Administration, should rectify their misguided policy.

As regards the so-called transitional government of Somalia, the President described it as “an island in Mogadishu.” By the same token, he described the presence of the TPLF forces as “an island within an island.” In this connection, President Isaias spoke of the possibility of the TPLF regime resorting to dangerous action emanating from a state of hopelessness, and mentioned the need for the people and Government of Eritrea to be prepared towards meeting any eventuality.

Regarding the smear campaign against Eritrea on the part of the US Administration and the TPLF regime in the name of terrorism, President Isaias dismissed it as a futile attempt designed to cover up the hopeless situation inside Ethiopia and the fiasco encountered in Somalia. He further stated that such a campaign essentially aims at ‘easing’ the TPLF regimes burden and to pressurize Eritrea to make concessions regarding the boundary issue. The President also explained that talks about establishing the so-called US Africa Command (AFRICOM) are bound to face opposition.

In connection with Eritrea’s endeavors to promote a comprehensive solution in the Sudan, President Isaias pointed out that the genuine efforts exerted by the people and Government of Eritrea are in line with the historical and cultural ties which exist between the peoples of both countries. The President further stated that Eritrea will continue this constructive engagement.

In the domain of diplomacy at a global level, the President said that Eritrea will engage in joint endeavors towards achieving desired goals. In this regard, he mentioned the state of Eritrea’s relations with the European Union as well as the countries in the Middle East and the Gulf.

The Ministerial Cabinet meeting conducted extensive discussions on the document presented and assessed prospects and challenges, as well as its impact on ongoing national development programs. In addition, it mapped out the necessary political, development and diplomatic strategy vis-а-vis the latest developments.

The meeting later on began its deliberations on the progress being registered in the national development programs.