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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”

  1. The issue at hand is really slavery and beggary mentality currently widespread in the Ethiopian political arena. Ethiopia has everything except intelligent leaders in power.Hence every effort which may have impact on bringing the unity of the Horn should always be welcome.

  4. you did good job Elias, I hope he answered all the question what we(Ethiopian) have been waiting for. I also hope to see what is Issaias plan about the future of the country. Do you see anything that Eritrea is doing such great things? Elias, i hope you have recorded all what we hear from the Eritreans. If it is true, that is something we have to learn from them. Work hard!!!

  6. Elias,

    You have taken a great step not only for yourself but also for us all Ethiopians. Your progressive thinking is not only a talk but also a reality. I wish there are more of you out there. Thank you for making us proud and this day will be remembered as a day that made us all think outside of the box.

  7. the US state department just gave a press release warning Asmara.Elias as a US citizen why don’t you play a positive role even though you are entitled to your opinion and actins till you cross the line and become a terrorist.
    Asmara is distablising force force.the end of woyane now is the end of Ethiopia as we know it.May God the Almighty open the eye of Elias Kifle.

  9. All,

    I have one question to ask to all Ethiopians and Eritreans. If we have live with white neighbors in USA or Europe, How hard is for us to live as neighbor back home? Let not see on the past we have a lot of thing to do together for upcoming generation and feed our self.

  10. What a great initiative! Our wish is this will be the beginning of the long awaited peace between the brotherly people. But there is no doubt whatsoever it is the beginning of the death of woyane. I can’t wait to see the interview.

  13. What a magnificent job Elias !! history is on making, the time where by the two brotherly people to work together for the betterment of the horn seems to be approaching faster than expected. the panic alarm has gone off on the woyanie camp on may 15 2009. the beast of the horn, the un civilised, racist and back ward tribal regime from dedebit is now wounded deep in its bones. it won’t be too long now before peace restores it self on the two heroic and God fearing people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    Elias Kifle, controversial or not in the modern Ethiopian politics, you never missed pressing the right battens on the right time. may God bless you for that.

    Long live the solidarity of Ethi – Eritrea !!

    May the almighty God help the people of horn to get rid of the blood sucking western empire and its dog woyanie !!

    May woyanie the tribal junta would be the last western slave on the horn.

    Finally happy birth day Eritrea. and long live Ethiopia.

  14. Bravo Elias

    Keep it UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
    Many Thanks for trying to bridge the brotherly and sisterly people of the two side of the Mereb River .

    Berta Wondme !

    Remain Elias as always !

  15. Do every thing possible to annihilate Woyane and capture all the living main Wyanes and bring them to justice. I will assure you that the Ethiopians are vigilant and waiting to wipe out the criminal/tribalist TPLF.

    Ine

  20. This intreview will have a significant positive impact between the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia. In fact, I don’t mind being on the record saying that this interview will play a major role in expediting the fall of Weyanes.

    Weyanes’ days are numbered.

    ER,

    Job well done!

    The optimistic

  21. Waluwa, I wouldn’t expect eritrea to give us Asab, let us be real. Let us have neighborly love between the two peoples without expectation of getting Asab

  23. This is a welcome addition to the growing contact and mutual understaning of Ethiopians and Eritreans.Every where in the diaspora, individuals, groups and whole communities of the two brotherly people interact in a friendly and respectful manner,despite the increasingly venomous propaganda of the hate merchants.These days,mixed marriages are not a rare occurence as they used to be. The historical, cultural, economic and blood ties of Ethio-Eritreans are too strong to withstand any temporary set backs, such as the last bitter war of 1998-2000.
    Bravo Elias and Sileshi! You have shown great courage, maturity and vision by illuminating the way towards a peaceful co-existence and future prosperity of the two coountries.

  24. Waluwa, sry but Asab is Eritrea and there he still stand. What for answer do you need, he stands there and you can see him. As a naighbour, Eritrea is ready to give you an access but you as a naighbour also have to accept the indennpendent nation Eritrea. Let us make biz for the sake of our economy, war can lead us nowhere.
    ER- Respect for the interview. I hope some of us will learn out of it.

    Well done!

  25. The only solution to solve the plight of most our people is to face and fight relentlessly with the language the tyrant understands ,there have been so many demonstrations appealing to other countries to put pressure on . The fact of the matter is historically there is no government willing to put up with those appeal , it is only the people themselves ,the victims ,the one who suffers are the once that can bring about change. It is we, who should use all means at our disposal tackle and battle it out. I seems People like Elias kifle knows and are in the right direction to gather the viable opposition and struggle.

  26. Without building bridges there can be no peace. Our common interets are strategic and beyond the lifetimes of one or other regime. The weyanes are counting their days, there are major and common challenges faced by both our countries that will be up to the next generation to address. Let us start the dialogue and put back the drainning and destructiv dogma of hate and all its justifications and start addressing these questions in order to survive the next millenium no matter what the history might throw at our region and continent. Let us talk and exchange ideas. Let this be the begining. It is a good begining Elias.

    Tesfa.
    Peace.

  27. Great job ER!

    It’s time to get rid of these minority bandits of ethnic belief with no identity who betrayed Horn of Africa, to do the dirty job of the West.

    At one time, they are “Tigraians”, burning Ethiopian flag, when the going gets tough, and on the other hand they are “Ethiopians”, when there is an opportunity, for maximum looting.
    At one time they are friends of Eritreans while on the other hand ethnic cleansing Eritreans.

    They used Eritreans of vision to come to power, pretending Ethiopians, and when they thought they had full control they used innocent Ethiopians’ blood to advance their Abay Tigrai agenda, to claim Assab. When this failed, they used Americans, in the name of fabricated “War on Terror” against Somalians, to gain diplomatic support in their “Rule of the Jungle”. They implanted ethnic hatred among Ethiopians so they will never be challenged.

    These leeches have to be dismantled the way they came to power, not thru the Internet or the fake ballot box but thru real measure, with all ethiopians involved, with the help of their creator, Shaebia.

    Let peace shine in Horn of Africa so our lives will go smoother, in this critical times of the 21st Century!

    dil leChiKun hizboch!

  28. Miraculous!This guy-Elias’s a man of intellect as well as vision.By this very interview the content of which to be seen soon as promissed by the writer himself,he made a breakthrough in the cold-ice relations of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    Opposition politicians of all stripes are left behind in policy making,while Elias and Sileshi came to the forefront.

    For all intens and purposes,however,we’ve to see the entire content of the INTERVIEW.We can make our judgement afterwards.

    I know the beautiful city of Asmera-Combistato and its visinity.I had been in many of the hotels and restaurants.But I had no opportunity to visit the beautiful resort harbout city,Massawa.It’s a tourist destination.

    I mentioned this,among others,to show that many Ethiopian tourist could have used this facility had the leaders of the two countries been farsighted,had love for the peoples of the two countries.

    Because of their arrogance behaivour and stubborn policies,the war on Badme and other locations raged and consumed the lives of 120,000 soldiers.As if that is not enough,the stalemate on the border conflict’s not yet broken.

    The proxy war in Somalia has also compouned the problem,and currently seems to get more complicated.The U.N,in my opinion,should intervene to avoid more blood shed.

    The Somalis piracy’s also a regional and international problem that revolves around the two Horn of African countries.It must be nipped in the bud by the collabarative work of the great and the Horn of Africa countries.

    To make the long story short,I’m highly pessimistic that the multi-faceted problems in the two countries can be resolved if Essais and Meles stay in power.Both countries need democratic political systems,democrat leaders.Refusal to receive international aid amidst poverty shows simply lack of wisdom and neglect to the sufferin of ones own people.

    I’ll continue my comment after the 4-hour interview.

    Have a grea day,Guys!

  29. Good job.
    I hope president Afewerki’s answers will convince some Ethiopians that anything and everthing Eritrean is not bad for Ethiopia and that Eritrea is not necessarily Ethiopia’s #1 enemy. I also hope that this interview would not be the only and last one. More close interaction between Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis for that matter may help lessen mistrust and enmity that prevailed so far. Conflict and hatred among us has been the practice all alone and has not gotten anywhere but bloodshed, misery and medieval living standard. It would ,therefore, make sense to experiment regional rapprochement and cooperation to safe lives, lift ourselves from abject poverty and allow ourselves to live with dignity.

  30. well done. ethiopians and eritreans should stand together aganist the foreign agents and the terrorist group TPLF. This is really a good move. we,ethiopians and eritreans have so many things in common.we should put aside our differences and stand shoulder to shoulder to topple our common enemies. that are westren agents like bereket,melese andd sebhat.

  31. ER,
    It’s a breakthrough to journalism as compared to other media outlets regarding Ethiopian affairs.

    When I saw the first time the face of Mr. Elias on ETN-Tv, I could confirm that Mr. Elias was a patriotic person loving his country Ethiopia and our neighbours.

    His expression as well as his body language was telling me how he was deeply immersed in Ethiopian nationalism.
    A nationalism, in favour of all people living on that country irrespective of ethnic, clan, religion, party affiliation, etc.

    I hope more news will come out, when we watch the video and the content of the conversation.
    Viva ER

  32. Great job, Elias!
    You are really superb and the one who understands in detail about the enemy of Ethiopia (TPLF). You are such a great person with high courage to do every thing to bring down the tribalist junta. I hope many will follow your initiative and become clear about nature of that regime so that we have to point every effort to overthrow the tyranny from Ethiopia.
    GL

  33. Dear Elias,

    I applaud you for this courageous and bold move. I know you are a class on your own. This is an eye-opener for all of us, friends and foes alike, to look beyond our immediate interest. For so long, we’re blinded by our ego, rigid ideology, and narrow-politics. We have spent much of our precious time fighting one another on irrelevant matters that doesn’t serve any good to the Ethiopian people. Now is the time for open, smart and fresh outlook to extricate Ethiopia from the dangerous situation it finds itself.

    Insanity, as they say, is doing the same thing again and again, and expecting a different result. We live in a time, more than any other time in the history of Ethiopia, where we need to forge a smart alliance and craft knowledge-based, very well researched strategy to outsmart Woyane in all fronts. Unless we do that, we’re not going to achieve the freedom we’re yearning for long. I sincerely believe Elias’ move is part of this greater smart and open strategy towards achieving that grand and noble cause, i.e., the freedom of the Ethiopian people. I can’t wait to hear the full interview.

    Those who do not stomach this bold move are either Woyanes or are those who are still shackled by their own narrow dogma.

    Yours.

  38. Elias;

    You traveled to a country/government where no alternative media outlet is observed. It must be the only country where ideas opposing the givernment are 100% banned.

    I’m sure you have learned a lot to avoid any idea contrary to your stand. That is why you posted only the support and admiration to you.

    I, therefore, congratulate you to learn and practice the “Esayas doctrine” in no time.

    By the way … i understand why it took you so long to post the video.

    Observer

  39. Hi Sileshi
    I’m very proud of you and i can wait to see the vidio I
    hope we will have a good relation with Eritrean for the future well done god bless you

  40. Great job guys. Instead of guessing about the stand Eritrea when it comes to Ethiopia, Somalia It’s better to hear it from the leader himself. Now for the first time Ethiopians that see and hear this will understand that Eritrea only have good wishes for our Ethiopian brothers and sisters and hope they will fight like Eritrea outside powers that try to in slave our people and economy. We shall fight and win together. Victory to the people of
    Ethiopia & Eritrea and we shall overcome these dark days.
    Love & Peace to Eritrea & Ethiopia
    Seme Eritrawi

  42. Elias what u have done is something that goes beyond the reality we have today, i think can really be the restart botton for a new era in wich eritrean and ethiopian people can see each other as brother and sister once again

  43. Ones weyane mafia are eradicated from the face of the planet the beautiful people of Ethio-Eritrea and as well as the rest of the horn of Africa will co-exist with much more mutual respect, interest, benefits, and above all peaceful environment. The “border of shame” that slaughtered and distroyed both nation will be dimilitarized zone and replaced with peace loving people. God bless Ethio-Eritrean people and it is my prayer the whole weyane mafia family rotten in the prisons they built themselves!

  44. according reliable sources,mobile phones outside addis all disconnected by weyane. Too much tension in the Northern Ethiopia. It seems EPPF is advancing now and many ethiopians are flocking to join EPPF army.

  46. This is a big blow to woyane. The job of Woyane, Aiga and Ethiomedia is to keep Ethiopians and Eritreans apart. Because that is the only way they will keep Ethiopia hostage. Now it is undoubtly clear that Ethiopians and Eritreans, somalis and other East Africans have actually a common enemy. It is time to work together towards a common interest. One thing Ethiopians should know that Eritreans are reliable friends and they have a track record of keeping their words. They supported the south sudanse, even when woyane used the case in 1998 to build its alliance with the sudanse government. The Eritreans helped the south Sudanse to have a place to leave without asking nothing for return. When the somalis were abondoned even by the Arabs the Eritrean government stood with them in their difficult time even risking itself to be included in the terror list. Given the track record there is no reason to think that the Eritrean goverenment will betray the Ethiopians. By the way Eritreans and Ethipians are more related than any other people in East Africa.

    Good job Elias.

  47. Had there been one hundred people as brave and as hard working committed Ethiopians as Elias kifle and Sileshi Tilahun in today’s Ethiopia, the Woyannie tribalist gangs would have been history.
    A very smart Ethiopian called Elias and the Ethiopian Review (ER)” a General with two divisions of army”, no wonder the Woyannie Tigraians had charged Elias Kifle with “treason punishable by death” after the 2005 election fiasco in absentia, during which the Woyannie Tigraians committed genocide on innocent Ethiopians.

    Keep up the work

  49. Journalism is gathering information for the sake of revealing the truth to the people. I believe that is the true intention of the word.

    You did one step forward by interviewing President Issaias. I am sure a lot of people will realize the truth and grasp a better understanding of what Eritrea and Ethiopia should be as neighbors. As I am, I am sure many people will watch the entire interview and are waiting anxiously.

    May peace and prosperity be to both; the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    Elias, You are commended for doing your job and you deserve it.

    Thanks, John

  50. Elias! The ice breaker… BRAVO! You did it again. Woyanes will piss today after this. I can’t wait to see the interview video. congratulation. the problem today is there are only few brave and courageous journalists and politicians like Elias today. ood work keep it up…!!!

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