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President Isaias Afwerki gives interview to Ethiopian Review

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

President Isaias Afwerki and Ato Mekuria Woldu, an official of the Ministry of Information, holding a private meeting with Elias Kifle of Ethiopian Review and Ato Sileshi Tilahun of EPPF before an interview

ASMARA — President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea gave a 4-hour interview on Friday afternoon to eppfOnline.org, the official website of Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF), and Ethiopian Review.

The interview was conducted by Elias Kifle of Ethiopian Review and Ato Sileshi Tilahun, head of EPPF International Committee’s organizational affairs and eppfOnline.org.

Before the interview, President Isaias and Ato Mekuria Woldu, an official of the Ministry of Information, held a 40-minute private discussion with both Elias Kifle and Sileshi Tilahun.

Elias Kifle of Ethiopian Review and Sileshi Tilahun of EPPF interview President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, May 15, 2009

Video of this historic interview will be available shortly. More details and photos will also be posted later.

189 thoughts on “President Isaias Afwerki gives interview to Ethiopian Review”

  2. WAAAAW Elias,

    That is great! The Weyanes and other anti-ER were saying that you were bluffing about the interview with President Isayas.
    They were ridiculing ER saying “President Isayas would not give interview to ER”, and you shamed them, as you always do.
    Great job. I can’t wait to watch the interview.

  7. The time is to walk the walk and the time to talk the talk is over! Dr. Birhanu and Tsegie are marching frward with this result oriented maxim! Eliase is wa ahead of his time…the need to have solid relationship with Eritrea is key to support sustain an armed struggle against tyrants in Addis. Now selling this result oriented stratgy is not that hard anymore because Elaise has the capacity to envision the future of the struggle to overthrow the butchers in Addis!
    Eliase,according to my information,Weyanes get nightmares when genuine Ethiopians like you venture into establishing relationshp with the Eritrea. The reason is simple: because they know fully the benfits of establishing good relationship with Eritrea was key for them to conquer the Derg soldiers. That is why, the weyans spread an intense propoganda in villifying , reducling and calling names anyone who tries to establish relations with Eritrea. However, those weyne tricks are expired and now ime is to strengthen the EPPF and Ethiopian review is playng the leading role..kudos eliase..

  9. Bravo Elias Kifle!! I am proud of you taking this historical initiative to clear up the situation between the leadership of the Eritera and the freedom fighters of Ethiopia! I am sure things has changed over time between the Eritrean President and our peace loving peoples of Ethiopia. Let us find a common ground among us to eradicate the woyanne minority junta! The biggest tumor of the Horn of Africa is The Meles and Co. dictatorial rule sucking the blood of the people in the region like Ethiopians, Somalians, Eritreans and etc… Let’s stand together to eliminate the Meles’s circle once in for all.

    Again thanks Elias!

    We shall wait to comment on the interview

  10. Well done it is how it starts to change the situation. Let every one know who wants what and how. Ethiopian is in desperate need of new government who respect not only the ppl of Ethiopia but the entire region.

  12. ato Elias balsasat president esayas ke Ertrea nesanet wedih yhen yahil rejim yehone interview le mejemeria gize bemestetachewna erswom endisaka bemadregwoejig tilk yehone misgana yigebawotal.ato meles siyatatlunina siyawardun le ethiopiyawyan yalachewn niket be agazi tajbew yalefirhat cheflkew bebarnet eyegezun 18 amet honen.enterview bizuwochachinin liyasdest yemichil yeselamna yetehadso dildiy endemihon tesfa alegn. ftenu!

  15. As I have declared more than once before, the National question in Ethiopian has been duly answered. The people of Eritrea raised arms long time ago to take back what was unlawfully snatched from them and they have won that war in a fair fight. They are a sovereign state now since 1993 and we should all respect that. All other residual issues such as access to sea lanes should be negotiated with this sovereign state on equality bases. Any past relationships should be used only as a reference not as a past territory or property. I know that there are quite a few Ethiopian who are not willing this reality and who took as a very bitter pill to swallow. Some of you may even try to tell me that Mr. Isaias and his followers were getting a lot of both material and diplomatic support from other nations. All I can say is good for those that did just that. But it shows how intelligently he used all his resources to sustain the battle against all odds and gained independence. I don’t give any much weight to the contributions of ‘Ted Bundy’ from Adwa. EPLF were already in full control of more than 90% of Eritrea even before 1990. I still have copies of Time Magazine and other Western news papers from the 1980’s and 90’s that showed EPLF in control of Massawa and other large towns in Eritrea not let alone the countryside. They had grasped their realities very well from the outset and used all their meager resources very well. ‘Ted Bundy’s’ march into Addis in May 1991 was only the ice on the cake for Mr. Isaias and his troops. So some of you fools must learn how to accept defeat and accept Eritrea as a full fledged sovereign state.

    Anonymous replies:
    May 3rd, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    I think you are very fool. Without overthrowing the dergue regime in Addis, how could Eritrea gain independence. You said that by the time woyane forwarded to Addis,Shabia already took control of 90% of Eritrea by its own soldiers. The question is could that kind of temporary success stay long without struggling to eliminate the dergue for good?
    How about gaining credibility and the legal procedures in finding acceptance from the UN and other concerned bodies? I think all these issues were settled and facilitated by the woyane who controlled the whole of Ethiopia. I don’t think neither woyane or shabia could have achieved success without each other’s support.

  16. You did it Elias! The woyanes are shitting everywhere now. I’m pretty sure other Ethiopians will follow your footsteps soon. if woyanne used Eritreans help to topple the mengistu regime. it is clear that eppf will succeed very soon with help of popular uprising all over the country and with help of Eritrean brothers. as you heard on the news the woyannes already starting to panic in Gonder and Gojjam. if a person with a right mind approved woyanes rule IN ETHIOPIA, i say he is a damn fool.

  17. What a good news Elias. I’m proud of you. You are a real son of Mama Ethiopia. Hope we have a lot of crougious people like you and see beyond the horizon.

  18. Elias, it is my nature that I don’t praise mortals nor do I glorify them; this time, however, I applaud your courage for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and interviewing the most feared, quiet, proud, and internationally unknown leader, a leader who hates to run his country by a donated money from the western nations.

    Your journey from America to Asmara to meet Isaiah Afework and to hear what he has to say about Ethiopia and Eretria is like the journey of Queen Sheba from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to visit Solomon and to learn from his wisdom; the only difference is that you didn’t take with you large quantities of gold and precious stones. As Solomon answered all the difficult questions Queen Sheba presented him, in the same way, did President Isaiah answer all your questions? I hope he did.

    My advice to you is don’t try to go to Ethiopia to interview that monster, Dictator Meles Seitanawi, the uncivilized Woyanne leader; in case you go to interview him, the first question he would ask you is what ethnicity you are.

  19. Elias, it is my nature that I don’t praise mortals nor do I glorify them; this time, however, I applaud your courage for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and interviewing the most feared, quiet, proud, and internationally unknown leader, a leader who hates to run his country by a donated money from the western nations.

    Your journey from America to Asmara to meet Isaias Afwerki and to hear what he has to say about Ethiopia and Eretria is like the journey of Queen Sheba from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to visit Solomon and to learn from his wisdom; the only difference is that you didn’t take with you large quantities of gold and precious stones. As Solomon answered all the difficult questions Queen Sheba presented him, in the same way, did President Isaias answer all your questions? I hope he did.

    My advice to you is don’t try to go to Ethiopia to interview that monster, Dictator Meles Seitanawi, the uncivilized Woyanne leader; in case you go to interview him, the first question he would ask you is what ethnicity you are.

  20. What guy you are Elias. You are really true political science grad. You are not biased, unlike Nazereth,abugheda and Ethios-media web sites.You are always try to spread the truth what is going on the other side despite smearing the country(Eritrea) as well as Isayas Afwerki in the name of so called free speech and artificial democracy.

    Well done Elias!!
    You are great!!

  23. Congratulation Ethiopian Review. This is fantastic indeed. I am looking forward to see the interview. Long live Ethiopia. Long live Ethiopian-Eritrean friendship.

  27. Elias,

    You are the best. The alliance with Eritrea is strategic in our effort to get rid of TPLF.

    TPLF used Eritrea to come to power. So they know very that the road to power in Ethiopia usually goes through Eritrea.

    But Meles & TPLF have conveniently forgotten the past, biting the hand that fed them for so long. Now they demonize Eritrea. If Eritrea was good enough to propel a rag-tag band of Tigrians to power, why wouldn’t be good enough for patriotic, pro-democracy Ethiopians.

    What I like about Isaias and the Eritreans is that, unlike the Woyyane, they have self-respect. They have not sold their soul to the devil for the almighty dollar.

    They have not allowed themselves to be paid by good old USA and Israel to kidnap and torture fellow Africans in secret prisons worse than Guantanamo. They have not allowed themselves to be paid to invade, kill and maim our Somali brothers and sisters.

    Meles Zenawi and company will eventually be brought to justice for the thousands of people they imprisoned, tortured and killed within Ethiopia itself. Killings in Gambella, Oromia region, Amhara region, Gambella and Addis Ababa and many more will not simply disappear. Woyyane leaders will be held accountable.

    Of course I don’t agree with everything Eritrea does. But alliances are not about agreeing on everything. They are about being open-minded and keeping once eyes on the prize — in this case the demise of Woyyane and the dawn of freedom in our beloved Ethiopia.

    Elias — keep up the good work.

  31. This what we were waiting for. You did it. The foundation for the super bridge to connect the two people has indeed been laid. Keep up the good work. Wanyanes will be suffocated to death without a major combat.

    cheers

  32. Elias you did a great job!!Elias i know how much you love our country. every Ethiopian opposition group they have to learn from you no talk do practice just like you did.

  33. I cannot wait to listen to the interview too. We can over throw Woyane and live in peace with our neighbours. We can learn a lot from President Isaias. His motto is Self Reliance, say no to hand outs and those Western leaders who want to tell us what to do, what to eat and so on then they call us names like beggars. We can work hard and feed our own people.

  35. Dear Mr. Elias Kifle,
    I’m pleasantly surprised to see a major & very popular Ethiopian media outlet, willing to committ it’s professional talent, resources & time, extending olive branch, reaching out to hear the Eritrean side, instead of spreading the commonly usual rotten old blind hatred,
    Besides the 50 years war-drums, never in my life time did I ever see, a candid, open, honest & earnest Ethio-Eritrean discussion on the causes & effects of our mutual demise.
    I wish there were more Elias Kifles in the last 50 years of Ethio-Eritrean endless wars. Instead of shopping arms to wipe each other out, we could have been exchanging ideas, hearing each other out & resolving our differences peacefully, saving many Ethiopian & Eritrean lives & treasure.
    I’m gratful for the Ethiopians who visited & interviewed the Eritrean President & thankful for the President for his time, respecting & honoring the Ethiopian reporters & seizing the opportunity to build bridges with Ethiopians.
    ER: Keep up the great job.
    Thank you,
    Lijam

  36. All Ethiopians get ready to bury these primitive low life weyane once and for all. You can do it if u have the unity and respect among each other. Long live Eritrean ppl, and long live Ethiopian ppl. After all we are brothers and neighbors.

  39. I am glad to witness this historic interview and read what most of you Ethiopians are saying. The people and country of Eritrea, always tried to work and live in peace with the people of Ethiopia and other neighboring countries. It is time now for Ethiopians in Diaspora to say enough is enough and get rid this war criminal regime that is always hungry for blood to kill Ethiopians, Somalis and Eritreans. As for the interview, I cannot wait to hear what our beloved President has to say. Thank you for this interview. Long live the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Sooner or later the weyanes will pay for their sins, the crimes against humanity.

  40. Elias, thank you for being such a visionary and tearing down Wayane’s house of lies walls once and for ever!! You are leaving historical imprint that no one can take away from you!! I just can’t wait to watch the interview!!!!! Long live the peace loving people of Ethiopia and Eritrea!!!

  43. Elias,

    I was one of those who were turned-off due to some of your previous radical remarks.

    I say now thumbs up! You did a great job. I am impatient to listen the interview. Lime most peace seeking Ethiopians, I have a couple of points that I would like to hear from President Isayas, about his vision and objective to work with the Ethiopian people.

    There is no any reason that the people of the two countries won’t come together through dialog and mutual understanding. I am sure that the people of the two countries will prosper if we remove the cancer which has been invading Ethiopian for the last 18 years.

    Western people have shown us time and again that they are worthless in the struggle to get out of Ethiopians from the genocide regime in Addis Ababa. We would ask our Ertrian brothers and sisters to join us in this struggle and let the Western donors (aka feeders of genocide regime) go to hell once and for all. We Ethiopians and Ertirians together can be sefl-sufficient in a very short time without the assistance of hypocrite western donors provided we combine our forces to remove this cancerous regime in Addis Ababa!

    Again, Thumbs Up Elias!

  44. What? R u expecting anything good from Shabia? Don’t u know that it is Shabia who mentored the TPLF traitors in power today? I can’t expect honey from flies. It is not to discourage u but am very ashamed of u Elias.

  49. I join all others in Congratulating ER for taking the first and courages step in bringing the news from “The Horse’s Mouth”. Instead of making our stand about Ethiopia and Eritrea by relying on recycled lies, we can make an informed decisions based on facts. I am also waiting eagerly to hear the interview.

    Happy 18th,indepenece aniversary to Eritrea!

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