Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to the African Union and

UN Economic Commission for Africa

Ambassador Girma Asmerom’s

(Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the African Union and UNECA) reflections on the so-called “attempted coup d’etat” in Eritrea

Starting 21 January 2013 there has been a concerted and coordinated disinformation campaign by the media about the situation in Eritrea and the so-called “attempted military coup d’etat”.

There has never been an “attempted military coup” and there will never be a coup d’etat in Eritrea. It is the wishful thinking of some quarters. I say this with impunity. You might say why not? It is a legitimate question.

1. The social fabric and the military structure of Eritrea do not allow for such         disastrous and stupid action to take place.

• It is a society built on trust and an unflinching commitment to the unity of the people and the economic development of the country which emanates from the vision which is casted in the heart and mind of every Eritrean that our Martyrs, whose pictures are hanging on the walls of every house, have entrusted on us.
• As a national service participant as well as a member of the reserve and regular army, almost every able-bodied person in Eritrea is armed. As a result who is going to fight whom? And who is going to mobilize whom? Therefore, unless somebody is stupid or crazy he/she will not attempt a military coup that is destined to fail from its inception.

2. The country is so peaceful that:

·         with the exception of the Air Port, no Government Office or Institution, be it the President’s or Ministers’ Offices, Hotels, or Banks etc…use metal detectors or electronic screening machines.

·         Ministers or Military Commanders, including the President’s wife and children are simple citizens and live simple lives. You find them and see them in any public places without bodyguards.

As is the case all over the world an armed crazy, stupid and terrorist individual or group can take stupid actions such as kidnapping of individuals or taking hostages by

raiding government and private institutions and offices. Such isolated incidents which frequently occur in the West are considered terrorist acts. I don’t understand why in Africa they are considered coup d’etats. It is the highest form of double standard and hypocrisy.

The spin-doctors who have deliberately targeted the Eritrean People and Government, nine months ago said that the President is dead. Today they are saying there is an “attempted military coup”. I am sure that tomorrow they will come up with another fabricated news.

Rest assured that the President is healthy; and Eritrea is a peaceful country and its people and army are fully concentrating on their economic development agenda and protection of their sovereignty.

26/01/13

Press Section

Permanent Mission of Eritrea to AU and UNECA

Ayoub  mzee  with the Palestine  leader  Mahmoud  Abbas .Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday attended the African Union Summit as a special guest and reiterated the call for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territory.
Abbas was speaking in Addis Ababa during the opening of the 20th African Union Summit at which some 40 African heads of state and government and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were present.
While on his first visit to Africa after the admission of Palestine into the UN with an observer status through the support of the African countries, the Palestinian leader reaffirmed his opposition and that of all the Palestinian people to the illegal occupation and colonization carried out by Israel on the Middle-East territory.
"The continued colonization only reflects a racist and an apartheid regime that is applied on the Palestine territory," Abbas said.

		UNION AFRICAINE
		UNIÃO AFRICANA

 

 

           

 

PRESS RELEASE N0. 20 / 20^th AU SUMMIT

 

 

 

Summit Ends with Strong Decisions and Declarations by AU Heads of States on Crucial and Topical Issues on the Continent

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 28 January 2013- The 20^th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit holding on the theme: “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance” ended Monday 28 January 2013 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with commitment by the AU Heads of State and Government to ensure implementation of the Assembly Decisions and Declarations arrived at during their deliberations.

 

 

In his closing remarks, the newly elected Chairperson of the African Union, Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, expressed satisfaction at the active participation of all the Heads of States and Government in the discussions on various issues of interest to the continent. “Your valuable comments and contributions have no doubt enriched our debate and informed the decisions that we have adopted on a myriad of issues. (See complete speech of the AU Chairperson on the AU website: www.au.int ).

 

The following decisions were adopted among others:

 

On refocusing the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to support the transformation agenda of the African Union, the Heads of States urged the Secretary-General of the United Nations to provide the required support to ECA to enhance its work in accordance with Africa’s priorities.

 

 

 

 

 

On the creation of the African Observatory on Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI) to be hosted by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Heads of State endorsed the project.

They called on Member States and Development partners to avail the necessary technical and financial support for sustaining the AOSTI and its programmes.

 

 

The Heads of State also decided to create the Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization (PAIPO). They requested the Commission to convene a meeting of all stakeholders dealing with intellectual property in the implementation of the Decision by May 2013 Summit.

 

On the coordination of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and Africa’s preparation for cop 19/CMP 9

 

The Heads of States acknowledged the need for further refine and streamline the coordination mechanism for CAHOSCC. They endorsed the coordination function of CAHOSCC as follows:

 

i)                 Coordination of CAHOSCC rotates for a period of two (2) years for two Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);

 

ii)                 Country of the host of the Presidency of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) to serve as the Coordinator at the Summit level to enhance linkage between the AMCEN processes to CAHOSCC in addition to providing the necessary support given the nature of expectations at this level; and

 

iii)                 The President of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) to serve as Coordinator at the Ministerial level;

 

iv)                 Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) experts elected at the UNFCCC forum serves as Coordinator at the Experts’ level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the establishment of an “international constitutional court”

The Heads of States requested the African Union Commission on International Law to examine the proposed establishment of an International Constitutional Court and make recommendations to the 22^nd Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (January 2014) on the said proposal

 

On the integration of the new Africa- Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP) into African Union structures and processes

                         The Assembly requested the Commission to take the necessary steps towards the integration of the New Africa-Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP) into the African Union structures and processes.

 

On the representation of local communities in organs of the African Union

The Assembly requested the Commission to submit a comprehensive report on the opportunity, feasibility, relevance and implications, including financial ones, of the proposal at the January 2014 Summit.

 

On the reduction of maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity in Africa

           The Assembly requested that the Ministers of Health of the African Union examine the progress made regarding the state of maternal, newborn and child health, map out concrete and innovative strategies at a larger scale in order to adequately address the health needs of African women and children and submit a report to the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Assembly. It decided to place this item on the agenda of the next Assembly.

 

On the establishment of the African Union institute for statistics

 

The Assembly approved the establishment of the African Union Commission Institute for Statistics that will be based in Tunis, Republic of Tunisia.

 

On the promotion of critical knowledge for the accelerated and sustainable development of Africa

The Assembly took note of the proposal of Burkina Faso on the promotion of critical skills for Accelerated and Sustainable Development in Africa. The Heads of States approved the initiative of Burkina Faso.

 

On the hosting of a special follow-up summit on the Abuja 2001 African Union Summit on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases in the third quarter (july/august) of 2013

The Assembly welcomed and endorsed the offer by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to host a Special Follow-Up Summit on the Abuja 2001 African union summit on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases in the third quarter of 2013.

 

On the south-south and triangular coalition in support of Africa-post 2015

The Assembly took note of the proposal by the Republic of Guinea relating to the creation of a South-South and Triangular Coalition in support of Africa Post 2015; it approved in principle the creation of a South/South and Triangular Coalition to assist Africa within the framework of its Post 2015 Agenda.

 

 

 

 

On the report of the Committee of Ten on UN Reform

The Assembly reiterated that the Committee of ten remains seized of this matter until Africa achieves its objectives on the reform of the UN Security Council and requested the Committee to present a report to the Twenty-first Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2013.

 

On the election of the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union

The Assembly, appointed the following persons as Commissioners  of the AU Commission:

 

	Name and Country		Portfolio
a)	Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga (Republic of Congo).	-	Human Resources, Science and Technology
b)	Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping (Lesotho)	-	Economic Affairs

 

On election of the five members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union

The Assembly appointed the following five (5) Members of the Peace and Security Council for a three (3)-year term as of March 2013:

 

 

1.    Equatorial Guinea                          Central Region

2.    Uganda                                            Eastern Region

3.    Algeria                                              Northern Region

4.    Mozambique                                   Southern Region

5.    Nigeria                                              Western Region

 

 

 

On the election of one judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The Assembly, appointed Mr. Kimelabalou Aba ( Togo) as Judge of AfCHPR for a year and a half (1½ year) term.

 

On the election of the eleven members of the Advisory Board on Corruption

The Assembly, appointed the following Members of the Advisory Board on Corruption for a two (2)-year term:

 

No.	Name	Country
1.	Mr. Jacques III Achiaou	Cote d’Ivoire
2.	Dr. Tony Aidoo	Ghana
3.	Ms. Akossiwa Ayena	Togo
4.	Ms. Angele Barumpozako	Burundi
5.	Mr. Salem Ben-Gharbia	Libya
6.	Mr. M’pere Diarra	Mali
7.	Mr. Jean Baptiste Elias	Benin
8.	Mr. Edward Gamaya	Tanzania
9.	Mr. Ali Sulaiman Mohamed	Ethiopia
10.	Mr. Pierre Nzobabela	Republic of Congo
11.	Mrs. Julie Onum-Nwariaku	Nigeria

           

 

On the election of five members of the African Union Commission on International Law

The Assembly, appointed the following Members of the AUCILfor a five (5)-year term:

 

 

No.	Name	Country
1.	Mr. Rafaa Ben Achour	Tunisia
2.	Mr. Daniel Makiesse Mwanawanzambi	D.R.C
3.	Mr. Boniface Obinna Okere	Nigeria
4.	Mrs. Naceesay Salla-Wadda	Gambia
5.	Mr. Kholisani Solo	Botswana

 

 

On the Declaration of solidarity with Algeria following the terrorist attack on Gazier site in Amenas, the Assembly condemned with utmost firmness the “cowardly  and vicious act of aggression against a member state of the African Union.

 

On the Declaration on Palestine, the Assembly welcomed the United Nations General Assembly’s decision granting the State of Palestine “Observer non-member” status in the UN. It urged the international community to pressure Israel to comply with the United Nations’ resolution and previous agreements signed by with Palestine.

 

On the other hand, it was announced during today’s closing ceremony of the 20^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union that, the next AU Summit will take place on 19^th to 27^th May 2013.

 

He called for the stoppage of the occupation policy, the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the occupied territory and the termination of the policy of confiscating Palestinian taxes by its powerful neighboring state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

African Heads of State give more impetus to NEPAD’s implementation

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 26, 2013 – Senegalese President Macky Sal has been elected Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), a high level body of twenty African leaders that provides leadership and policy guidance to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Mr Sal replaces the later former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi who served as Chairperson of the HSGOC for four years until he passed away in August 2012.

The grouping, which meets twice a year on the fringes of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, also sets priorities and the programmes of action for NEPAD.

A moment of silence in memory of Mr Meles was observed at the opening session, which was attended by several heads of state, representatives of regional economic communities and international organisations.

On his part, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn urged AU member states to reduce dependency on foreign aid for implementation of infrastructure development projects.

Hailemariam described his predecessor, the late Meles Zenawi as 'a symbol of Pan-Africanism' whose legacy is witnessed on the ground in Ethiopia.

He said Meles viewed NEPAD as a change- model in the management of Africa's relations with the international community.

President of Benin and Chairperson of the Africa Union, Boni Yayi called on the   need for Africa to scale up implementation of NEPAD priorities such as agriculture and infrastructure, and speed up the aspect of domestic resource mobilization to encourage less dependence on western funding.

NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki presented the Agency’s Results-based Activity Report of July to December 2012, where he highlighted effort for sustaining the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)) momentum and the various tools and mechanisms for domestic resource mobilisation for the NEPAD programmes.

“The NEPAD Agency believes that the time has come to give new impetus to CAADP to meet legitimate expectations of member states while providing a clearer perspective and overall role for agriculture in the economic transformation of the continent. To support this transformation NEPAD has launched the Africa Rural Development Forum as platform for knowledge sharing on polices on rural transformation.” said Dr Mayaki.

CAADP has emerged as a key vehicle to diversify economies, grow agribusiness, ensure food security and thrive. It also stimulates access to finance, inputs and markets for smallholder farmers.

To sustain the its momentum, there’s a need to assess how non state actors can take ownership of the CAADP process by contributing to the development and implementation of agricultural policy in their respective countries

Dr Dlamini Zuma pointed out that despite NEPAD’s achievements, there’s need to address challenges such as adequate resources and human capital, to implement NEPAD Programmes and Projects.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mohammed Mossi and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria have been elected Vice Chairpersons of the HSGOC Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritania and Libya, are the new countries that have joined the grouping.

                                                                            

                                                       ……………… END………………