PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN: Eritrea on course to prosperity - FM
New York, US (PANA) - Eritrea's Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh, says the country, in more than 25 years of its independence, was facing "concerted onslaught", difficulties, incessant hostility, occupation and sanctions that resilient Eritreans, at home and abroad, were nevertheless able to fend off and protect their hard-won freedom.
"Few gave Eritrea a fighting chance. We were routinely written off, our imminent collapse predicted with regularity, but the people, through sheer determination have resisted the onslaught, and, after a difficult decade-and-a-half, the country is moving up, its economy is rebounding, infrastructure is being built and, among others, favourable conditions are being created to provide quality education," Saleh said at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Eritrean FM said: "The pressures, coercion and hostility that Eritrea has faced are by no means exceptional or distinctive", arguing that in the Horn of Africa region, they are only one element of a misguided policy pursued over a quarter of a century that has fuelled violence, conflict, instability, and fragmentation, as well as extremism and terrorism.
"Indeed, many nation that cherish dignity and independent decision-making have to face the wrath of those who wish to cling to their domination and privilege," he noted.
He stressed that "more broadly, unsustainable policies of greed and pillage and the reckless resort to unilateral pressure and force to secure unilateral advantage, instead of seeking common ground and mutual interests, is pushing the world on an extremely dangerous path."
Saleh said the pending decision by the US to adopt legislation that nullifies national sovereign immunity constitutes a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent with grave implications.
"In our region, the past two decades have generally been a period of missed opportunities, of zero-sum games, of repeated conflicts and setbacks. Even today, the situation remains fraught with risk and danger, yet recent developments indicate the possibility of an opening for a new beginning, for re-launching the vision of a peaceful, progressive, economically dynamic and cooperative Horn of Africa.
The Eritrean FM also said that Eritrea was keen to build on its encouraging achievements to transform its economy and society, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly by relying on the energy, skills and initiative of its people and the judicious use of its natural resources.
"It is also determined to work actively and constructively, and in collaboration with its neighbours, for peace, stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions," he concluded.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 26Sept2016
"Few gave Eritrea a fighting chance. We were routinely written off, our imminent collapse predicted with regularity, but the people, through sheer determination have resisted the onslaught, and, after a difficult decade-and-a-half, the country is moving up, its economy is rebounding, infrastructure is being built and, among others, favourable conditions are being created to provide quality education," Saleh said at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Eritrean FM said: "The pressures, coercion and hostility that Eritrea has faced are by no means exceptional or distinctive", arguing that in the Horn of Africa region, they are only one element of a misguided policy pursued over a quarter of a century that has fuelled violence, conflict, instability, and fragmentation, as well as extremism and terrorism.
"Indeed, many nation that cherish dignity and independent decision-making have to face the wrath of those who wish to cling to their domination and privilege," he noted.
He stressed that "more broadly, unsustainable policies of greed and pillage and the reckless resort to unilateral pressure and force to secure unilateral advantage, instead of seeking common ground and mutual interests, is pushing the world on an extremely dangerous path."
Saleh said the pending decision by the US to adopt legislation that nullifies national sovereign immunity constitutes a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent with grave implications.
"In our region, the past two decades have generally been a period of missed opportunities, of zero-sum games, of repeated conflicts and setbacks. Even today, the situation remains fraught with risk and danger, yet recent developments indicate the possibility of an opening for a new beginning, for re-launching the vision of a peaceful, progressive, economically dynamic and cooperative Horn of Africa.
The Eritrean FM also said that Eritrea was keen to build on its encouraging achievements to transform its economy and society, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly by relying on the energy, skills and initiative of its people and the judicious use of its natural resources.
"It is also determined to work actively and constructively, and in collaboration with its neighbours, for peace, stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions," he concluded.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 26Sept2016
