EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first positive step on the part of the U.S. Department of State after a decade of failed policy by the previous officials who had contributed to the chaos in the Horn of Africa by financing Meles Zenawi’s tribal junta that has turned the whole region into a war zone. The best thing for the U.S. State Department to do is to stay out of the Horn of Africa and allow the people of the region to sort things out for themselves. All the current wars and conflicts in the Horn have the U.S. finger prints on them. Stop fueling the Woyanne killing machine and Meles Zenawi and his tribal warlords will have no option but to sit down and negotiate on equal terms with all the political players in the region for the sake of their own survival.
The United States Seeks to Engage Eritrea
By Tizita Belachew | VOA
The U.S. Secretary of State’s assistant for African affairs told VOA’s Tizita Belachew today “the door is open” to improving relations between the United States and Eritrea.
In his second month on the job, Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson today discussed issues confronting several African countries including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Zimbabwe. Carson has previously accused the State of Eritrea of shipping arms and fighters to Somalia to support the insurgency of al-Shabab. Today, the assistant secretary revealed a surprising twist in his efforts to engage Eritrea.
Carson, who has served as a U.S. diplomat in six African countries, told Tizita, “I met with the Eritrean ambassador and asked to meet with President Isaias Afwerki. If he will give me a visa, I will be there.” However, after Carson left his passport with the Eritrean embassy “for an extended period” he was surprised to find it returned “without a visa in it.”
“If relations are not improved it will not be because we’re not trying to act as a respected partner.”
Carson said the Obama administration seeks to normalize strained relations. “This administration seeks a better relationship with Eritrea,” Carson said. The most recent difference is over Eritrea’s support for the insurgency against the Transitional Government of Somalia.
President Afewerki told VOA’s Tigrigna service in Asmara two weeks ago that he looks forward to meeting Carson, but Afewerki repeatedly denies flying weapons to al-Shabab in Somalia.
“There is a growing volume of real and circumstantial evidence of continuing relations between Asmara and al-Shabab,” Carson said today. “We encourage Eritrea to cut off relations” with the insurgents, he said. “There should be no transit for foreign fighters through Eritrea.”
“The door is open if they are transparent on Somalia.”
23 thoughts on “U.S. State Department reverses course on Eritrea”
Gentlemen, Fellow Ethiopians,
It is a great news when Tizita Belachew starts in engaging in Ethiopian problems. Tizita never spoke out about the horror and genocide, murder, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the butcher of Addis, meles zenawi the grand son of a banda who hate Ethiopians. It is good start Tizita takes up regarding, Eritrea and the horn seriously. Tizita has a moral obligation to her fellow Ethiopians even if she is employed by the USA Govt.
Thanks you
As we can read from the interview US is not ready to talk about Ethiopian and Eritrean relations because of the good releationship it has with Ethiopia. Somalia is not Eritrean interest. Like the present heat of Somalia said Eritrea is not relevant to Somalia(we wish them goodluck).
He (Carlson) will not receive visa unless he is going to adress the current no peace not war situation in this two countries.
Meles must be evicted from power and face justice at ICC
Woyanes attempt to make Eritrea looks as a terrorist sponsor nation in the region becomes a complete fiasco. I am glad The State Department has opened the door and its willingness to clear the cloud. By the way so called free Eritrea radio based in Paris is by Woyanes and from woyanes nothing to do with Eritreans.
How does this guy expect to get a visa while he still believes 1. Eritrea is arming Al-Shabab 2. wants Eritrea to negotiate with the criminals in Addis? First he should come up with facts and evidence that Eri is involved in the mess in Somalia, otherwise he cannot just assume that Eri is supplying weapons. I dont see any difference between him and Jandaye Fraser. He claims he worked in 6 African countries but that doesnt make him he has the right to come to my house and tell me what to do. Eritrea is not ANOTHER AFRICAN STATE and things function differently in Eri. These guys dont understand; may be he should watch the documentary AYRESAENAYON (we did not forget) that was airing on EriTv in the last couple of days. That might give him some idea how much ppl have suffered due to their policies – our mothers and sisters were raped by woyane gangs, our martyrs cementary destroyed, homes burned, children killed, churchs and mosques destroyed…the list goes on. My advice to Mr. Carson is come up with open mind and we are ready to talk. As they say it in Tigrigna, Ezi wedehanka.
This man started to blame Eritrea for the insurgency in Somalia. This is the biggest problem with this man without having hard evidence. The Bush adminstration failed miserably in Somalia. It did not succed sending puppet Woyane and Imposing three gov’t against the will of Somalia people. This man started to use scaring tactics like Frazer against Eritrea. He should know better this type of propoganda did not work for Bush and it’s not going to work for him.
Mr Carson, look what the puppet regime caused havoc and distruction in Somalia to the dirty job for Bush adminstaration. Let’s have common sense. This may be the case with such nonsense blaming Eritrea had denied him a visa.
please leave the horn of Africa to be peaceful. The people have suffered so much for the interest of USA. This crime has to stop.
The Obama administration is stuck with the Bush policies in the Horn of Africa until they stop using the talking points and real policy established before the election of the Obama administration.
Johnny Carson is not helping matters by regurgitating old and worn out accusations against the Eritrean government, he should know that the Eritrean government doesn’t obey orders from any foreign power. You can’t say you are working for peace while financing a brutal tribal regime in Ethiopia, destroying Somalia by installing puppet after puppet and tacitly endorsing the break up of Somalia and interfering in the internal affairs of the Sudan.
The new US administration has to learn a lesson from the failed and destructive Bush policies and deal with the people of the Horn fairly. If they refuse to do so, their policies will fail as usual and when the destructive forces they are propping up are gone they will be sidelined for decades to come unless they wake up and change their policies. No super power can stop the will of the people of the Horn of Africa.
As long as the State Dep’t countinues to support the terrorist illegal gov’t of Ethiopia, Eritrea should stay away from any contact with the State Dep’t for the time being.
It is amizing to see those Eritreans gutt to refuse uncle Sam diplomat; if he’d left his passort at Woyane embassy, it would have been return immediately with a visa in a gift rap with five Woyane slaves accompanied it. lol
Meles: Successful completion of Gilgel Gibe II intensifies Ethio-Italy relations
Addis Ababa, June 18, 2009 (Addis Ababa) – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said support of the Italian government for successful completion of Gilgel Gibe II hydroelectric power generation project will further strengthen the historical relations between Ethiopia and Italy.
Meles made the statement here on Thursday while discussing issues of mutual interest with State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Alfredo Mantika.
Secretary Mantika is here to attend the inaugural ceremony of Gilgel Gibe II hydroelectric project.
During the discussion Prime Minister Meles said completion of the project is regarded as a monument to the historical cooperation between Ethiopia and Italy, according to a senior government official, who attended the discussion.
Meles requested the government of Italy to continue assistance for implementation of hydroelectric power projects to be carried out in Ethiopia in the future, according to the official.
He also called up on Italian investors to make use of investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
Secretary Mantika on his part said he had discussion with Prime Minister Meles on ways to further bolster cooperation between the two sisterly countries.
He said he discussed with the Prime Minister with regard to Gilgel Gibe III hydroelectric power project, which is very important to Ethiopia.
The project needs the help of not only the government of Italy but also of the international community including European and African banks due to its massive and complex nature, he underscored.
—END—
Carson is a mouth piece of the minority regime of Ethiopia that is occuping illegally Eritrean land. if the Obama Administration is serious to have a relationship with Eritrea, must send a representative who is neutral official who has a deep knowledge about Eritrea if not all Africa.
any country does not agree with their foreign policy is either a terrorist or support terrorists.
One thing the US administrations like to forget is that any condition has NEVER worked toward Eritrea. They like to set conditions like we are the BOSS and you the slave, laughable! Can’t they learn from history? Eritrea will never drop it’s believe for a random relation with USA. The horn of African people are dying because of the US-politics and they wanna tell us if you do this and this you can be our friend. The US must give up this attitude particularly toward Eritrea, because it will never work. The US must formally apologize for the mess they created and swiftly begin to undo it, they publicly have to condemn Meles and have to enforce the Algiers agreement. We the Eritreans are the ones who set conditions here, it’s our turn. We don’t wanna be friends of murders and their masters. If they do not change their policy toward the horn of Africa, they can go to hell.
If Mr. Carson is sencere which I doubt very much, he should start respecting Eritrea as a nation and address the outstanding isssue Eritrea has with the US. The border issue sole obstacle is the US, the main guarantor. The whole world knows that the unconditional support the US gave to the woyanes is the main obstacle to the peace in the region. Ethiopia today find it self worth that it was during the derge time. The US is abaiting, financing and and appologizing for the woyane regime which is committing genocide, imprisonment, and attroisicity and terrorizing the population. So who is the sponsor of this crime? So please Mr Carson stop running around the Bushes and get on the real issue. It is not Eritrea that need to change the polices of the State Department. You need fresh idea and get new professional staff. How about consultation with Eritrean-American who wrote a petition to the President, Senate and House of represntative. That will be a good start. We are wactching you like a hawk.
Hello Aba Jaffar Aba Gobbu:
Do you know the grandfather of Meles’ wife also a BANDA? Oh yes! He was killed by the Ethiopian patriots in the region of Gondar. Do a little research and you will find out.
Until the US keep blaming Eritrea for its failed polices in the horn the will be no solution period. The Obama admnistration has an opportunity if he is really is for a change. So far we have yet to see. What we have witnessed so is the continuation of the Bush polices. Do not insult the Ethiopian or the Eritrean people. We consider the TPLF worst than Hitler, worst than aparthaid, worth than any brutal regime that ever came to past. this regime is sponsored, financed and supported by the West. Mr. Carson do not insult the African people. You fooled us once, shame on you. you fool us twice shame on us.
Mr. Carson has already convicted Eritrea with out any evidence and he want’s to talk with PIA. Who can anyone discuss or negotiate with someone who already made his mind. That was the problem with the previous one and it semes the problem is stil there. Eritrea wants an equal partnership for the benefit of both nation and specially to our region. US need to do more than this useless PR BS.
Eritreans r peace lovers.But we don’t seek peace at z expense of our national integrity n sovereìgnity.So Mr carson, we want Algers agreement implemented wizout any pre-conditions by either u or ur slaves.U know justice n fairness r preconditions for peace n we r seeking justice about our border.If u want address issues of our border,u r welcome if not we r not about to entertain people who don’t know what zey r talking.We r not begging u to solve z issue,b/c begging is not in our dictionary.We r asking for our inviolable rights 4 justice.So, if u r seeking peace lay ground for peace-not talking rosy words but walk z walk as u talk z talk.
The Editor’s note is the only true road to peace, stability and progress for the region. The people of the Horn of Africa deserve governments that are recognized and supported by the people, for the people. The so called internationally recognized government formed and supported by outsiders will not produce any result except chaos. Mr Carson is trying to sell old wines in a new bottle and his bottle already has cracks. He needs new clothes that fit his size and not the worn-out dresses of Janday Fraizer’s from the Bush administration. Blaming for every failure in the region on Eritrea, was the old song based on lies. How about a new dress of sticking to the truth and the rule of law? I am sure that will take the U.S. and the people of the region a long lasting of mutual trust and cooperation for the generation to come. The region is starving for a “change we can believe in”. Only the truth will make us all free.
It’s easy to sound angry and thereby seek to appear important. It’s more effective to appear nice — even diplomatic.
The new administration in my country is taking a fresh look at the entire region. It is using a different approach than the previous administration.
Admittedly, it is often hard for people in my country to understand the history of the Horn of Africa and to figure out how to contribute constructively. But refusing to even grant a visa to a top ambassador cannot be a good sign.
There is a time and a place to make strong statements. I’m not sure that now, at the beginning of a new administration, is such a time.
In terms of longstanding hostilities, it’s better to learn from the past — than live in it.
The united state must stop interfering in our region believe Horn of Africa would be better without usa.I would like to tell mr carson go to hell leave us alon.
Anthony Michell,
We know you are not the real Anthony Michell. In any case, I would have agreed with you if there was a real change in policy. The first thing the administrations representative to our continent started doing was accusing my beloved country of sending arms to al shabab with out any real evidence or facts. You, I and everyone else knows that this is not true and it shouldn’t be ignored.
This was what the last administration was doing, and you can’t be doing the same thing and claim to be an agent of change.
1)My beloved country is a poor nation, and can’t afford to send arms to other ppl when it is facing a big army next door.
2) How is it possible for my country to send arms when there is no border connection to Somalia and there are two hostile goverments (Djibouti and Woyane)in between.
3) My country is not a super power with big Navy or Airforce to be abe to pull the logistics difficulty.
All we have is our people, determination and the truth. And knowing all the 3 points above, everyone knows that the accusation is all lies and the people of the horn are beginning to understand.
Thanks,
People of Eri and Ethio will one day be free
We have been told that Sir.Carson served in 6 African states. What kind of states? States that live in handouts?or exist under the merci of foreign govts? Mr.Carson should learn from his predecessors like Susan Rice & Jandaye frazer that Eritrea is not like the 6 African states he had served. GOE deals and wheels on principle not in hearsay.
Denying him a visa is not a big deal for Eritrea because he is comming with rusted ideas in his arsenal.
America governments are responsible for horn of African human discrimination.they are the one allow the dictatores wages on power . but at this time we can’t say ”America go home ” unlees we are a part of rilgouse extrimist nor tribalist genocide in sudan ethiopia Kania and somalia.we must call America to abolish this worst dictators in the horn . Horn of Africa must stop the apostels / prophats rule over polticians in the horn . horn of Africa Sudan Ethiopia Eritrea Digubite and Somalia. the new strateges only work on the base of democratic world but deals deplomticaly with the global and islam world
Horn of Africa going to work for all these states nationally united states of horn of Africa
After that horn of African equaly apperoch for beter world but at this time uneducated gugmagugs are dancing like meles zenawi
I am kindly ask the readers, all the document of educational background of Meles Zenawi is a false document. he didn’t graudate from any university .I invite you for investigations. which university going to take responsiblity ? this what has had done on horn of Africa
every of you must understand horn of Africa for unity rather displaced by Arabe like Egyptians.The true Egyptians already loost, still some Nuban color egyptians are not wellcomed for equlity in Egypt. so beware of Arabization movment that going to chased you out because of your color not because of your religouse