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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. Weyane starts crying @ aigaforum before the interview released. Elias you are a nightmare for those bastard woyanes. Good job brother Elias. Keep it up.

  2. Comment #29 (Waluwa), Please go get a life and leave us alone. Your question is silly at best and downright stupid at worst.

    Elias,
    Thank you for your effort and really attempting to bridge the two sisterly countries. I don’t want to say anything about the character of President Isayas for I am sure many will say nothing but good about him. I simply want to congratulate your efforts and I do not have an illusion that the way to go is to work together and we can do it and let us do it.

  3. First of all thanks for Ethiopian Review as well as EPPF
    for relentless effort they made always to expose WOYANE regime. Then thanks for Eritrean Government for allowing us interviewing them about general issue and who better know woyane better than President Esayas, and the relationship they have with us. I really eager to watch the interview hopefully soon. We are more and more unite both countries respecting each other but first and atmost we have to get rid off this coacoroch woyane regime.

    Long live ETHIOPIA.
    M.

  4. Dear Ethiopians & Eritreans:

    We Eritreans and Ethiopians have socio-economical and political common problems, so let’s work together to solve those common problems, face our challenges and meet the expectations instead of focusing in our differences and finger pointing to each other. Certainly, us in any civilized society we have different views on certain issues, however those differences shouldn’t stop us form cooperating, working together and respecting each others sovereignty and integrity.

    We have to be visionary’s to create and build stable, peace, prosperous region and the People of Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan and Eritrea to live in Harmony, Peace, Love, Respect and work hard to raise their families and build their wealth like any other part of the world. This was and is the vision of Eritrean Struggle, this is the Vision of Eritrean People, we as a Nation and People of Eritrea believe that we have to be in charge and be responsible for our own independent destiny. Hence, now Eritrea is playing its modest role to realize this vision.

    Therefore, We Ethiopians and Eritreans are not enemies but we are one big family so it is our duty as a generation to engage, participate and be active in realizing and be part of this vision and think forward and learn to be FRIENDS; we have to think beyond fall of Weyan’s and hatred. Today, the geographical borders we have might not be import in the coming generations or years from now.

    I just want you to think for a moment and try to consider the huge opportunity cost lost in the past 50 years by the conflict between these two sisterhood counties. Do you think the Ethiopian or Eritrean people gained by these endless conflicts and confrontations? Could you imagine the money and resources we spent for weapons to destroy each other? …. It is billions of billions of dollars. And now think the other way, could you imagine if we could spend and invest for the past five decades theses billions of dollars & resources build our economy such as our infrastructures, hospitals, schools, universities, privet companies…. I don’t think it’s hard to imagine what kind of economy and life standard the Ethiopian People could have at this time-day and age. If those money were invested properly, I believe today we might not have seen or witnessed a single citizen of that region dying of hunger. I could imagine that Ethiopia could be the main economy engine of the region with all its resources and talented People, being fountain of Wisdom, Prosperities and earn its highest position in the region and by in large in the world. Instead it seam to me (you might disagree with my thinking) that the Ethiopian leaders (regimes) during the past 5 decades have never learner from each others wrong policies. So it is up to us to bring change for the better and stable life in the region and bring Ethiopia to the position where it belongs, lead the region to the right direction, however to earn its position & respect, I believe Ethiopians should work hard to do their homework’s. On the other hand, I believe Eritrea is working hard in doing its homework’s and offering its humble help and goodwill for its neighboring people; so anyone with good intentions and common vision should use these great historical opportunity to realize our common vision.

    This is my first time to visit Ethiopian Website and I do apologize in advance if I offended or hurt anyone else’s thinking or feeling or political affiliations unintentionally.

    Elias please keep up the excellent work; I believe this is the first iceberg breaking interview and a good step to know each others values and thinking means to find and explore more common ground to work together for a common goal beyond the horizon.

    With all my Respect to all Ethiopians and Wishing You all the best in Your Endeavors!.

    And to My Eritrean People, I would like to congratulate you with Our 18th Anniversary of Independence Day. We the People of Eritrea are Honored and Privileged to have a GREAT – VISIONARY leader President Isaias Afewerki.

    Wedi Afowerki allow me to wish you good health and let God provide you with his Blessing & Wisdom to lead our Country to the right direction. God Bless You!!

    With the same token, let God provide our Leaders in the Region Wisdom & Blessing to lead their People to Stability, Peace and Propriety. God Bless Everyone!! And God Bless our Region!!.

    I am looking forward to see the interview.

    Mengis
    (Wedi Er)

    Awet N Hafash
    Zelalmaoi Zkri N Sweatna

  5. This is really a bad news for mercenary weyanes.President Essyas is a man of honor who is and has been the great leader of Eritrean nationalism.He loves nationalists especilly African nationalist groups that stand against neo-colonialists and imperialists.He has mske it clear that he is never the enemy of any nation or people for that matter Ethiopians,sudanese.somalis etc.His vision is by working together and respecting each others sovereignity we can come any obstacles and prosper.He is never a tribalis,opprtunist,narrow minded,extremist religious or nationalis.He has never been a tool of any powers be it Arabs,jews or europeans,and indeed Bushites.
    Not like the psycopath and worthless mercenay Meles Zenawi that leads the weyane an organization that stands for nothing and is a group of people who are hired by foreign powers and present noone except their big bellies or plainly hodamotches President Essayas represents Eritrean nationalism and pride.

  6. I congratulate the two brave Ethiopians , Elias and Sleshi , for the job well done! I have always believed that Eritreans are principled and that they are not traitors like the Wayanes. I have always believed that the Ethiopians and Eritreans can work together towards improving our existing conditions.

  8. Dear Elias,

    For what ever reason you interviewed, I would like to appreciate you and President Isayas. Look how Aiga has paranoid by your piece of news. Ethiopia Will Prevail.

    Texan

  9. it is really amazing to see Eritrean and Ethiopian solving their problems by themselves. where ever we go we are brothers. let me tell you something you guys, I’m Ethiopian living in the USA,i have a lot of Eritrean friend her with me. they respect and love Ethiopian than any other kind of people and we Ethiopian do the something, some other African people supreme with our love, they say “hey you Gus fight each other but you still love ……etc” This implays that we are so closed people than any other part of the world …. so please let’s live in peace,love and work for a better development.This is a historical event, thanks a lot Elias, you did great job!!!!

  10. We, the ppl of Ethio-Eritrea , it’s about time to sit & discuss Our differences to understand each other. I admire the true journalizm In action… Above all , thanks a Million to the One & Only servant Of the truth the Lion Of Nakfa to make this historic Interview Possible.’If ur Neighbour is sick u’ll be Infected too.’ so Peace in the Horn of Africa.

  12. Bravo Elias!

    By doing this interview with Isayas Afewerki, you have laid a solid foundation for mutual respect and understanding between Ethiopians and Eritreans.

    Keep up the courageous work and Woyane will be no more in a few years if not months. The Ethiopian Army has already started to rebel against the racist Woyanes.

    Viva Ethiopia!

  16. Whatever it takes to topple the dictator meles seitanawi I will support stronglly!!
    Bravo Elais!! Good job!!
    I am very eager to listen the interview!!

  17. Great Job,
    Elias you made it.
    The best job in your life bringing the two brotherly
    peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea together.
    Elias this would be the best historical moment.
    May 17, 2009

  20. it is truly great what u have done guys, we the people of eritrea and ethiopia, we r waiting for peace and i hope this should induce for further such kind peogress. colina .

  21. Jegna Ato Elias, you heard the heart beat of true Ethiopians and Eritreans, i am sure you will uncovered the truth covered by dust of weyane and its donors,i am sure you will open bridge of peace b/n the innocent peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Good work indeed!!!!

  22. I have mixed feelings about talking with Issayas Afeworki. But I can see this as the greatest threat to the TPLF. The more the Eritreans and Ethiopians are talking this would drive the Weyanes crazy no question about it.

    Elias you now found the biggest weapon of mass eradication of the TPLF

  23. Dear Elias, you click the jump starter of unity of the two people, you really tried the way forward to accept and being accepted.

    I wish u all the best.

  24. Hi Biniam, you sound a bite paranoia, this is an interview carried out regarding horn of Africa. No one asked President Issaya to run regim change on Ethiopia. Biniam I doubt you are Eritrean.

  25. Where is the interview? Post it please!

    I would like to hear his stand on Woyannes, sharing Assab with Ethiopia, reunion with Ethiopia, supporting opposition parties like EPPF.

  26. Good job Elias to be able to help widen the lens of many. Woyanne is on the run and this might also be a good opportunity to show ERITREANS WERE THE GET KEEPERS AND DEFENDERS OF Ethiopia but leaders screwed up. Thanks Elias we need many more courageous Ethiopians like you. I can not wait to see Isays’s response to all the questions.
    BEST

  29. Good job, aiga forum and ethiopiafirst are bullshiting about it. Those woyanne websites are jealous of you because you are brave to do this interview.

  32. Eritrea is the only country in the world supporting Ethiopian opposition parties. So I also take my hat off for Isayas Afeworki. tell me any country who supported Kinijit and others?

    Eritrea TV is transmitting Kinijit and EPPF news directly to Ethiopia. They hosted EPPF patriots by giving them basic support and food. We are so weak that we are even unable to utilize it. So you must be smarter. Only Weyanes talk bad things about Eritrea. Weyane used shabia to march into Addis so why cant do the same? Only weyanes are opposing Eritrea now.

  33. This is indeed a good start.The interview will I hope arouse a lot of common questions that need to be addressed. Our region demands that.
    Congratulation for this exposure.
    Fano

  34. Though I disagreed with Eritrean independce in 1991, I have come to grips that it is time to mvoe on and we have to find a way to live side by side with Eritreans. To me, Eritea’s stand against western powers is to be admired. If anybody can help us depose the TPLF, it is the Eritreans along with our real opposition groups. I hope this is the beginign of a long road towads mitually respect and trust between Ethiopians and Eritreans.

  35. Hi Elias. I would like to say thank you for your usual professional contribution to the Diaspora as well as to the oppressed people of Ethiopian. Having said that I want to hear and evaluate the whole context of the interview then I can say “yes you did it.”

  36. Elias, I did not know what kind of strings you pull off to have an interview with the present day Nkruma, LUBMUBA, and Malcolm X but I have to pay respect for your bold move. Elias, how did you find Asmara and the people of Eritrea? Please tell us. Thank U.

  37. Great Job Elias

    I am very amazed and pleased about the Good job you have done.Both Eriteans and Ethiopians are destained to live together as brothers and sisters,Our only and last problem is the inferior,backward TPLF TIGRAY,Lets Push hard and eradicate them.

  38. Dear Editor:
    Wonderful job. I had been asking myself that why a single Ethiopian journalist would not come here and ask our president so that Ethiopians of all walks life would understand us eritreans: we have never been against Ethiopians except for the bloodsucking leaders, like meles who has tarnished Ethiopia and Ethiopians with famine and begging. I don’t mean our president is all-correct and infallible but at least dares to speak in the face of the enemies of Africa and its people thereby try to provoke correctice measures on the part of the enemies. He advocates african unity, self-reliance, cooperation among poor peoples like us, Ethiopians and eritreans. The once flamboyant region(football, technology…), east Africa is lagging behind others in every aspect because of leaders like meles.

    Anyway, wonderful!
    Haile
    asmara

  40. ድንቅ ጥረት ነው: የሚደነቅ: እውነት ግን የምትፈልገውን ሁሉ ተይቀህ ተመለሰልህ ?ወይስ መመለስ የሚፈልገውን ብቻ እንድትጥይቅ ሆነ ለማንኝኣውም ከቃለምልልሱ በሁአላ የምናየው ይሆናል ::

  43. Hi both Elias and Shileshi;
    I know mr Elias From Ethioipa Review meg since 1994 and I adimre you always your free mind.I as an Eritrea I believe and hope we all are the some and the only our problem is Woyane.

  46. Good job Elias! I am Eritrean and i always adimer elias’s stand for being honest for himself and ask what he belives is true. We all should be honest and focus on the current issue try to solve our diffrences in a constructive way than distorting history and truth for self interest. Assab Assab Assab???? why Assab, Ertreans never ask about Abbay river. Assab,Massawwa belongs to Eritrea.

  47. Elias:
    This must be one of your lifetime accomplishment. Such a historical moment! Regardless of what you ask and what Mr Presidant Isaias answered, the gesture by itself is good enough.

    I have a greater hope for Ethiopia via Eritrea than any other Ethiopians. THe only way we can get raid of Weyane is that if we work close to Eritrea. President Isaias created Weyane and he is the only one knows how to destroy them as well.

    THank you Elias. Thank you Mr Presidant

  49. Elias where is the beef? Great job. I am eagerly waiting to hear what Isayas has to say to some questions we all Ethipians might have. viva Elias!!

  50. Couragious journey to the Land that caries the ‘antidot’ to Ethiopia’s chronic ailment of ‘peace’ under ‘Meles and Siyoum’ clique in TPLF. President Isayas has stood tall among his African peers for his ‘statemanship’ and currently represents the hope of Africa and Ethiopia, despite the conventional wisdom artificially created against his statures, by Meles’s TPLF in Ethiopia and the Military Junta.

    I salute the ground breaking move from Both sides, Primarily for President Isayas for allowing this and making himself available for questions from Ethiopia; Secndly,for Elias Kifle and Ethiopian Compatriot for taking the task of the interview. Great Job!!! It is symbolic and we hope to see decisive raproachment between Eritrean people and Ethiopian opposition groups that are getting ‘famous these days’ to remove the cancer of peace (TPLF) from the Horn of African political landscape once and for all.

    I wish personal well being for President Isayas and the State of Eritrea and Sucess for all struggling Ethiopian opposition forces, inside and outside.

    Thanks

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