VIDEO: President Isaias Afwerki’s interview with Financial Times (July 2009)
President Isaias Conducts Interview with International Media outlets on domestic, regional and international issues
By Shabait
Jul 21, 2009, 12:35
President Isaias Afwerki conducted extensive interview with the Financial Times newspaper, Channel 4 Television and The Guardian newspaper on the objective situation in the country, as well as regional and international issues.
In the interview mainly focusing on the internal political and economic situation, the question of democracy, the situation in Somalia and the region, and Eritrea’s relations with the US and other western countries, the President pointed out that the forces of monopoly are resorting to continuous defamatory campaigns to tarnish Eritrea’s image simply because it refuses to bow down to western strategies. He indicated that although such forces try to compel the country to conform to their erroneous policies as regards the Somali issue, Eritrea continued to pursue strategies it deemed correct, the validity of which is gradually becoming clear. Stating that extensive smear campaign has been waged to isolate Eritrea just because it did not parrot the futile utterances made by the previous US Administration, President Isaias explained that the nation has not only upheld firmly its stance and emerge victorious but has also never knelt down. In this connection, he said that even those parties that used to belittle the country’s correct path have now begun to accept and respect it.
Replying to a question whether Eritrea is optimistic about the Obama Administration, the President declared: “We don’t basically live in mere hope and expect miracles.” He went on to say that fruitful outcome could only be borne as long as hope and work correspond with each other. Unrealistic hope, empty expectations and daydreaming have never been Eritrea’s political culture, the President elaborated.
Also in a reply he gave to a question whether the country would strive to normalize relations with the US, President Isaias underscored that it is the US Administration itself that ought to improve relations with Eritrea as the latter has done nothing to compromise the relation in the first place.
The President went on to explain that the real meaning of democracy as far as Eritrea is concerned is ensuring the active participation of the entire people in all political, social, economic and cultural aspects of the country. He also dismissed those who portray themselves as democrats by staging elections in which only 18% or 20% of the population participate.
Moreover, President Isaias noted that a leader who is willing to deposit millions of dollars in Swiss banks by allowing western companies and investors to amass millions of dollars by suppressing and exploiting his own people might be considered as a democrat by certain quarters. The President asserted that Eritrea has embarked on a political, social and economic process that ensures social justice and equitable allocation of resources.
As regards the National Service Program, President Isaias stated: “How could those that declared national service to invade another country’s territory be surprised if we launched the national service program to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty as a result of their aggression.” Pointing out that they are committing a grave crime by propagating that the young Eritrean generation has failed to hold up Eritrean past tradition, he indicated that the Eritrean youth is not only the pride and dignity of the nation but is also making history. As such, the campaign is part of the weakening ploys designed to frustrate the youth, the President emphasized.
In view of the fact that Eritrea’s economy depends on its own internal resources and particularly its human capacity while avoiding aid and handouts, President Isaias underscored that the country’s economy has not been greatly affected by the current economic meltdown. In this respect, he explained that the Eritrean economy is anchored on creating an atmosphere where the entire population leads similar pattern of living, rather than one that benefits only the privileged few.
Pointing out that Eritrea has been able to secure a promising future by pursuing pragmatic development projects, President Isaias underscored that there is no place in Eritrea for extreme gap of income among citizens and that equal distribution of resources has been selected as the basic approach of economic development. He also added that the fact that Eritreans residing abroad do their best to support family members in the homeland is based on the aforementioned mentioned political culture that was cultivated during the struggle period.
Indicating that the shortage of hard currency during these times of economic crisis is only natural, President Isaias explained that the important point is not whether one has or does not have a surplus of foreign exchange but rather to what purpose those funds are employed. “ We are at present investing our limited resources in developmental infrastructure, food security and social service projects, firmly believing that our efforts today will afford us a better future tomorrow,” he added.
Concerning the allegations that ‘Eritrea is facing hard currency shortage because it is purchasing arms’, the President emphasized that Eritrea has never put its faith in the power of arms. He further pointed out that if weapons had the power to decide the fate of a war, the Eritrean people, with their limited resources would never have stood a chance against the massive forces of superpowers. He once again emphasized that Eritrea’s philosophies and principles are not based on the use of arms but rather on resilient human resources and a just cause.
On the issue of NGOs, President Isaias explained that Eritrea was in the right indeed in calling for these organizations, which are flocking to Africa in hoards and endeavoring to replace governments, to make their agendas clear. “ These so-called NGOs were not only cultivating aid-dependency and corruption but also squandering away billions of dollars collected in the name of disadvantaged masses without any accountability. Hence we made it clear that we would no longer tolerate and turn a blind eye on these immoral practices,” he further indicated. The President went on to elaborate that Eritrea has since the early 1990s believed that putting an end to the donor-receiver relationship and instead cultivating development partnership would create better grounds for developing nations to avoid dependency and sustain themselves. Stating that the UNMEE was a good example of an NGO, President Isaias pointed out that during its stay in Eritrea, UNMEE expended more than one billion dollars among its initially 5,000 and later 2,000 members, for which they have yet be held accountable.
In answering questions regarding regional issues, President Isaias said that talking about irrelevant issues by putting aside the core issue as regards Somalia would not at all bring about comprehensive and lasting political solution to the problem.
Indicating that the basic solution lies in ensuring the reconstitution of Somalia that could be achieved through a protracted political and inclusive process, he pointed out that it is not understandable why the regional and international organizations which claim that they are concerned with Somalia, as well as the peace and stability of the Horn region are disregarding this basic issue. In this respect, President Isaias underlined that genuine solution could only be achieved if only a chance is given to the Somali people to resolve their issue themselves and set up a government of their own choice.
The President further explained that the attempt being made to link the Somali popular opposition with terrorism and Al-Qaeda is but baseless and unrealistic. As there are terrorists and Al-Qaeda in different parts of the world, it shouldn’t be surprising to witness such activities in a stateless and defenseless country like Somalia, he added. President Isaias underlined that the aforementioned allegations would only further complicate the prevailing problem and delay a solution.
Noting that governments imposed from the outside and the continued external interferences are dangerous approaches that are only exacerbating the problem and further fomenting division, the President underscored that Eritrea firmly opposes such uncivilized practices, and that it has never provided military, political or diplomatic support for one group against another.
Regarding the two French security officials recently abducted in Somalia, he explained that aside from what is being hyped in the media, there exists no clear information as to why these officials were in Somalia, who abducted them and their whereabouts. In relation with this, President said that it is astonishing why the French government made such an intervention and that this issue has provoked a lot of questions.
