The Interview with President Isaias Afwerki has not been posted yet because it is being translated to Amharic and Tigrigna. The translation takes time since it is a 4-hour presidential interview, and that it needs to be accurate. Once ready, the interview will be posted without any editorial change. The full English version will also be posted. Until then, see below photos from our trip to Eritrea.
(l. to r.) Ethiopian Review publisher Elias Kifle, Sileshi Tilahun of EPPF, Eritrea Information Minister Ali Abdu and President Isaias Afwerki inside the Asmara Presidential Palace, May 15, 2009
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 (l. to r.) Sileshi Tilahun, President Isaias Afwerki, and Elias Kifle in front of the Asmara Presidential Palace May 15, 2009 |
 Ethiopian Review publisher Elias Kifle touring Asmara, May 13, 2009 |
67 thoughts on “More photos from Eritrea”
Elias what a fantastic job !! but am dying to hear the interview can you please post it as quick as possible.
I still remember it
It was during the rainy season/winter vacation. I and my neighbourhood as well as school friend (grown up together thinking his family is mine and mine family is also his), invited by his Aunt to spend vacation with her. We both were finished grade 11.
He and I travelled by ourselves by plane from Bole International and arrived in Asmara. His aunt, her husband, the children and their friends came to the airport to welcome us. During the rainy season, Asmara is warmer than Addis and it gets not as much as such heavy and daily rain as Addis and other Ethiopian places in the highlands do. That was the best time to spend time there.
During 7+ weeks stay there, I didn’t have even a one second feeling that I was different than the people in the city and the family I was stayed. The food, drink, tradition, custom and in general everything was the same I know and grown up with. It was a 100% similarities in all aspects of life and 0% differences.
To make the story short,
When we returned back to Addis, we took a bus. The aunt was with us taking care and treating both of us equally as we were her nephews and sons the same time. It was the end of Augusts. People; that was the time I really did come in contact with the Ethiopia natural beauty. Everywhere and everything was green. The highland was covered with different kinds of flowers, every valley was filled with water, and water everywhere, all along were different kinds and many Animals and although they were doing in a primitive way, farmers were busy with their job.
We passed through Gonder and spent 2 days in Bahir Dar. We visited the city and the surrounding. I still have no word how everything was beautiful. Everywhere green, green, green, water and animals as if it was telling the people it was the reflection of Paradise on earth.
Then we enjoyed travelling through and we spent one night in Debre Markos. I still remember the hardest rain and the horrifying lightning and tender I ever witnessed at that night. Then the next day in the late afternoon we arrived Addis.
To make the story short;.
When I and my friend were in Asmara, we didn’t feel we were somewhere doesn’t belong to us. When we returned back to Addis, we felt the same. The aunt also didn’t feel she was in someone’s country, but as a new person to the city.
The sad point is that after some years, my best friend who was born in Addis and lived throughout his life there feeling 100% home, was forcefully deported with his family and the rest to Eritrea. They told him he was not belonging to Ethiopia. When I heard about what happened to him, his family and others, I really felt sad and sick. I still couldn’t believe what happened back then to him and others. After returned to Eritrea, two of his sisters immigrated. He got sick and with in weeks he died. His mother also died with in a year after his death because of she was unable to coup with the whole situation. As I heard not long a go, the father whom I loved, respected and treated me as one of his children also has died.
Imagine: if the things happened to them happens to you and your family right now or in the future. Someone comes today unexpectedly and saying to you; go back to a country you never been born and grown up there. what do you feel? Even if you was born and grown up there, it is difficult to go back by force without having resources to start a life there. It is another version of Hitler’s action against the Jewish.
The point is that the Ethiopian and Eritrean people are one people living in two places. If Ethiopia gets a govt cares about her and the citizens, Ethiopians and Eritrean can live in two places as one people (the Habesha). President Issayas can play decisive roles to bring this phenomenal happening in reality.
PEACE
We love you, our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. One people two countries, hopefully in the long run ONE PEOPLE ONE COUNTRY.
God bless you.
good job elias
Peace b/n Eritrea and Ethiopia is more real and easier than I thought. As an Eritrean, I am pleased to see all this positive and encouraging feed back here for Elias’ initiative. The future is more promising, lets work together to make this happen by supporting to the peace loving individuals and people in general.
Peace will prevail.
Dear Elias,
we appreciate all your efforts!KEEP IT UP.
i know what you are trying to do here. but to bring peace b\n this two countries you can’t be biased.
I am Tigrean/Ethiopian. I can not tell you how much I appreciate your effort Elias. I also can not tell you how sad I feel that we Ethiopians have been foold by the TPLF/EPRDF/WOYANE or what ever you want to call our government. Thank you Elias for bringing us that much more close to peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Thank Kubur president Isayas for being honest and open mind. I hope we see Meles in jail.
Job well done Elias and I can’t wait to see the interview. Wayanee your days are numbered and the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea will eventually live in peace.
Dear Ethiopians
I am glad Ethiopian Review asked and Issaias agreed for an interview. To understand each other’s viewpoints, we need to lay our questions to each other, or talk, or dialogue. There is a need for that.
Remember, all things are not going to be solved by this interview, but we have to start somewhere. From Eritrea(ns’) side, we want Ethiopia(ns) RESPECT our collective decision to establish a politically independent country.
If you ACCEPT that honestly, the sky is the limit to our cooperation and growth side by side or together. That is very important issue for us. No matter who Eritrea’s president is, or what political system we might develop in the decades to come, please RESPECT our desire to have a separate government of our own.
Provided that we come to the same understanding on that point, then our common goals will integrate us. Keep that in mind, please.
Well done Elias! I believe the interview of PIA with ethiopian review will give a clear picture of Eritrea’s committment for peace and good neighbourness to our region in general and particular to our brothers and sisters Ethiopians. In my opinion the sole way to forward African countries is the idea Eritrean is implementing of self-reliance and cooperation. The vision of Eritrea’s selfreliance and cooperation had begun to bring result in our region before the border with woyane erupted. We Eritreans wish to have a good relationship with our neighbours based on mutual understanding and respect.
cant waite to hear the interview…………
and very much like the idea that we Ethiopians should respect the territorial integrity of Eritra and their hard earned freedom (I read this lines from a comment on ER and i lke it!!!!!).
Assab could be the symbol ofpeace, respect, love and understanding b/n the two nations and its importance/use shoud only be seen from this perspective.
peace
Hello brothers and sisters, I want to share with you the following which I copied from an interview president Isaias gave to KENYAN jornalists.
We need leaders who thnk like this in Ethiopia and whole Africa. Please read it your self —
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Stating that the vision of the African founding fathers has been eroded following decolonization, President Isaias pointed out that the OAU which came into being to advance the lofty vision has become a hopeless mechanism instead of striving to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the continent.
In this regard, President Isaias cited two factors that are responsible for such a state of affairs, namely neo-colonialism and self-centered African leaders who advance their own vested interests at the expense of fellow citizens. The President noted that the majority of the leaders betray the cherished principles of their respective countries and become servants and champions of colonialism. He further indicated that the money and resources of their countries valued at billions which they have deposited in their personal accounts in the banks of western countries amply demonstrate the corrupt and despicable behavior of the African leaders.
Mengistu:
You left the following important peace of that interview in regards those worthless African leaders. President Isaias, who has been called as a “brutally honest” by some diplomats, is also very measured, bold, direct and his words are prophetic. One has to listen from his mouth and read his speeches and interviews fully, not the “summarized”, “here and there quoted”, or “dilutely translated” ones, and be then judge. Don’t let people tell you about him. You will see that he never puts political or diplomatic niceties and tells like it is. Above all, he practices what he preaches and that is why his people at home and in diaspora love and adore him.
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Moreover, President Isaias explained that the parities wishing to see Africa
exposed to adversity and at the same time provide the facilities for
depositing the sum of money amounting to 6 to 7 billion belonging to the
self-centered leaders on the one hand, and try to maintain a foothold in
Africa under the guise of humanitarian mission on the other. He pointed out
that if at all justice and the rule of law are to prevail, first and
foremost every African leader should make public his/her personal bank
account and that there should exist accountability which equally applies to
those parties depositing the personal financial assets of the leaders. In
this respect, the President emphasized that corruption is one of the main
manifestations of treason on the part of African leaders against their own
people, and hence economic development should primarily be measured in terms
of incorruptibility and sense of justice of both the people and the
leadership.
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good job
THE LION OF NAKFA- PRESIDENT ISAIAS AFEWERKI HOPEFULLY WILL ONE DAY LEAD UNITED AFRICA.
hOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL BE GIVEN A HERO WELCOME IN ETHIOPIA.
LONG LIVE LION OF NAKFA
If the interview was in Amharic, it would have been a big big plus, especially in the eyes of “the center” in Ethiopia.
Where the majority live. It was a very big missed opportunity. It would have dented greatly, if not wiped
out completely, peoples suspicion of Isayas.
Good day.