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Interview with President Isaias Afwerki (Part 1 – 6)

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

The following are Part 1 to 6 of the Ethiopian Review and eppfOnline.org interview with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The translation of the interview to Amharic will be posted as soon as it is ready.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

317 thoughts on “Interview with President Isaias Afwerki (Part 1 – 6)”

  4. Elias and Sileshi, you cannot understand how much good you have done by reporting the truth. I am an Eritrean and like most other Eritreans believe that both Eritrea and Ethiopia can live in peace and harmony. It has been always painful and disappointing to read comments by educated Ethiopian writers charging that Eritrea is plotting to divide Ethiopia with the help of Woyane. Please understand that Woyane is our number one enemy too. We have also no hard feeling about Tigray, because they are also victims of selfish Woyane. I was happy to read all the above positive comments by your readers and was compelled to add my little comment. Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!

  5. As an Oromo Ethiopian, I consider President Isaias and the Eritrean People as the only ally who provided refuge to OLF and Oromos at large during the Woyane occupation of Oromia and Ethiopia at large. It is time to broaden our alliance with Eritreans in the fight to remove the murderous regime of the ugly Meles and the Tigre thugs in power. At the end of the day, the wealth and treasure of Ethiopia looted by Woyane into building Tigrai can easily be restored to its legitimate owners. Viva President Isaias – we definitely appreciate your principled approach and most of all in your continued effort to destroy Woyane!!!

  6. The Prophet has spoken.

    It is up to the peoples of the two great nations of Eritrea and Ethiopia to heed his advice and words of wisdom and start the long awaited reconciliation drive. The cloud of suspicion, mistrust and doubts are torn asunder by the Presidents candid interview.

    This was the policy of the Eritrean leadership all along. The propaganda tsar cadres of the Tribal Junta were working hard to make sure that Eritreans and Ethiopians never see eye to eye. The Ethiopian comatose elites were also to blame. They were paying with the peoples emotions, fears and doubts to sore political points.

    It seems now the sun has risen, the clouds are gone, the time has come for a new beginning and this historic opportunity should no be missed. We have seen a President who is a pride of his nation, Eritrea, the Horn and Africa at large. A President with clear moral conscience, integrity, wisdom, experience and a class act.

  7. This is ground breaking, why can’t we have more leaders like PIA in Africa. I can see why the west can target a visionary leader like PIA, they are used to puppets like meles who can be easily manipulated. Can’t wait to see the rest of the interview

    thanks ER for this eye-opening interview

  9. Sorry number 89 my previous responce was meant to somebody else who number has been reshufled by the moderator – the one that stated that “Isaias Oppresses his people”. Noting could be further from the truth. He/she probably got that from the Weyane lie machine!

  10. To Elias & Sileshi congratulations on a well done interview. Your dedication & willingness to help your people is admirable. To all that say PIA oppresses his people, as mentioned by others, it’s a smear campaign by Weyane & the West, particularly the USA. PIA devoted his entire life to serving the Eritrean cause during the armed struggle and he is still tirelessly working to make sure that the dreams and aspirations of our martyrs are realized. Because he pursued a policy of self reliance and rejected any form of dependence on an outside aid that comes with political strings attached doesn’t mean he wants to starve his people. Foreign aid dependency is a cancer to any society and I commend him for rejecting it. It’s true that life is hard in Eritrea due to its limited resources and also due to the war waged on us by Weyane and the West, so it’s understandable for the Eritrean people to voice some concerns and complain about their hardships. However, this must not be confused with a deliberate hardships imposed on Ethiopians, based on ethnicity and political affiliations. While Weyane follows a policy of divide and rule, ethnic cleansing by starvation and mass murder, the Eritrean government follows a policy of internal unity, regional peace and harmony, non-interference in the affairs of other nations and achieving food security. These are glaring differences between the Weyane and the Eritrean government. We Eritreans are not oppressed; we are encouraged and given equal opportunity to be involved in our nation building efforts with out any preconditions. I love my president and I am so proud of him.

  11. This is the end of the enemy of Ethiopia as we know.Elias and sleshi you made history brothers, cause this is an eye opening to most Ethiopians including Eritreans. Eritrea and Eritreans never the enemy of Ethiopia. Please open your arm from now on. We belong to each other. Our fate and destiny is together. Long live our both people. no more hate from now on. victory to the mass.

  12. As an Oromo Ethiopian, who lost my father as a Derg Army Officer during the war against EPLF, I sincerely admire and respect President Isayas Afeworki and the Eritrean People who provided refuge and support to OLF and other anti-Woyane forces – at a time when it was not popular to do so. He has certainly earned my respect and confidence. President Isayas is a true champion and symbol of freedom of all oppressed people from the yoke of tyranny.

    Despite the countless effort and barrage of lies of the Tigre mafia led by the ugly subhuman Legesse Zenawi to create wedge between Eritreans and Ethiopians, once again we are reassured by President Isayas that he will stand by Ethiopians in the fight against the murderous Tigre thugs occupying Ethiopia at this time. As an Oromo Ethiopian, who witnessed 18 years of unparalleled killing, torture and persecution of millions of Oromo Ethiopians under Meles and Tigre thugs, I welcome President Isayas’s call to unite and annihiliate and end the current murderous Tigre occupation of Ethiopia. I would also like to see Eritreans punish these criminals for the crime they perpetrated against Eritreans over the last 18 years.

    Viva President Isayas and down with Legesse Zenawi and the Adwa crime family!!!!

  14. Where are part 3 and 4??? What’s wrong with you Elias? Post it please! Anjete eyerase new! Elias wendu!! Zendro Woyannen chira asqolefkew eko! Gena min aytew!! DUMB BANDAS!

  15. After i seen all the comments n view of the above i swear i had tears in my eyee, even though i use to be in the front when i was young as a freedom fighter. Brothers and sisters, let’s leave the past to the history book, look for the future of our people, we have more in Common to bring us closer than to divide us. Eventually we will make it. peace and rain to the horn of Africa

  16. Anyone who has a good heart and healthy memory would recall the policy of EPLF was UNITED ETHIOPIA.
    I remember that TPLF agenda was a seperate Tigray and make Great Tigray.
    So many time passed EPLF to oppose that Agenda.

    I therefore want to remind all that this interview was not the indication of UNITED ETHIOPIA but during the libration strugle.

  17. I was born in Ethiopia and grew up both in Eritrea and Ethiopia. I was very confident but was afraid of the huge propaganda work of the previous governments of Ethiopia has left Ethiopians an aware of crimes committed by their name in Eritrea. After so many years of wishing that one day Ethiopians will really take a time and listen to what the other side to say finally I can say that wish or dream has been realized. I think we have a lot in common even if we have differences we can begin working from the points we agree on and we can find common ground for our differences. I wish those to brothers all success Eritrea and Eritreans will Help let alone Ethiopians even those far away from us. I thank the leader of the wonderful country brother Issayas Afeworki.

  18. Thank you for breaking the ice. Now every one has a taste of the interview. PIA never changes he speakes straight and tell what in his mind. All the smear campaign against him through the media of the west is to shut him up. However, he is the only leader to say ‘NO’ to any one who degrade him or his country. He is the only one rejects the hand out of the west. He is the only one ask for equal partnership with the West and that why the West is sleepless to demonize PIA. Now we know, what are we going to do about it? This a challenge to the West; to weyanne to those who advocate human right on day time and do inhumain at night. Got the idea, it is upto us to be aware of the our surroundings. Ethiopia and Eritrea are neighbores

  19. IT IS INCREDIBLE AND MADE ME CHANGE THE WAY I THINK ABOUT PRESIDENT ISAYAS …HE IS A GREAT LEADER ..WHAT MISASSUMPTION I HAD PREVIOUSLY ABOUT ISAYAS .ITS ALL BECAUSE OF WOYANE WRONG INFORMATION…ANY WAY GREAT JOB PRESIDENT ISAYAS!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. Elias and selish, you guys have done a great service to the miscinceptions b/n ethiopians and eritreans. Your questions were to the point and PIA addressed them properly.
    A great job keep it up

  21. Mr. Elias, thanks for the much-anticipated interview. I try not to miss PIA’s interviews, not necessarily for political reasons but because I find his speeches to be intellectually stimulating. There’s so much to learn from a genius like him, and I hope people stop being caught up on one or two issues and miss out on such opportunities.
    Mr. Elias, you have built a bridge by creating a dialogue, which will lead to the end of misunderstandings and stereotypes. Whether we want to take this path and create a better future for the two countries, OR choose to continue to look back and get stuck in the past, is a choice we’ll have to make.
    I hope we make a smart choice.
    God bless Eritreans and Ethiopians.

  22. Thank you Ethiopian review for providing us a chance to hear from the horse’s mouth. It is an eye opener and as the President of Eritrea clearly said, we, Ethiopians and Eritreans, should work for the future generation.
    If you visit now the TPLF mouthpieces namely Aiga & Ben’s websites, they are scrumbling to detour this healthy discussion with their ever fear mongering propagandas. It is exactly this mentality that the President was talking about. The mentalitiy of the weak that thrives by spreading false information and distortions.
    Thank you again for the interview.

  23. I am an Eritrean. I never remember any moment in bad or good times the EPLF thinking or acting for short gains. When the woyanes were trying to set up abay Tigray, EPLF told them you do not have future outside of Ethiopia. Every doctrine of EPLF was united Ethiopia… You better refer to all dcouments and history of EPLF. and its stand was the same after independence and even during the war. Please refer to Eritrean governments statement after the border war delimited by the EEBC. ” it said.” this is a victory for the Eritrean and Ethiopian people. meaning there is an end to hostility… We always say “peace is our choice”. we had this slogan when the woyanes declared war against Eritrea. I have my T- shirt with that slogan.I can post it to you. We did not see any reciprcal positive response from the Ethiopian side. At any time in our lives, we Eritreans were saying peace is our choice and this was the slogan of EPLF. and of Eritrean Government. Peace never comes wished by one side. I hope this new chapter of respecting each other, understanding eac hothers and listenining to what each of us has to say is opening the window of opportunity. We have to seize this opportunity to make peace and help our people focus on economic and social, cultrual developments so that they can improve their living conditions. Viva Eritrea viva, Ethiopia, Viva the greater horn and its wonderful people. actions are needed to achieve our dreams not only words. congratulations to all peace loving people of the horn

  24. In this discussion forum, I have witnessed a great deal of maturity compared to the previous times. Ask me why? My answer is I never read any hate speech among the Ethiopian tribes (amahara, oromo, tigre, gurage,somali,etc..). At last we are coming to our sense and we found the way to dismantle woyane. Please keep up the good work. WE MUST SINGLE OUT WOYANE AND ATTACK IT. We should also take care when addressing Tigrian citezens. They are very sensetive and suspicious. The suspision was installed by woyane in to them.

    When asked when are you going to handle the differences/problems between blacks and whites, the great Obama answered: Let’s save it for the good times, after handling the current economic crises. So, nothing is different to Ethiopia. Yes we have some internal problems but let’s save it for the good times and remove woyane who is the source of all evilis, division, hate and tribalism.

    President Isayas (through great work of Elias and EPPF)has changed the equation. The equation has been changed. Believe me, woyane never expected this and bereket and meles have no where to go.

  25. president Isayas send a message to Tigray people that the responssiblity of the crime last 18 years is in account of meles and his mafia groups. all your brothers and sisters wait your anti woyane movement to share your national obligation. I have no words enough to thank dear mr.ELIAS !!!

  26. I can not wait to see full peace and harmony between Eritreans/Ethiopians. Eritreans and Ethiopians let’s focus on our common enemy poverty.
    peace and love!!!

  27. Those kinds of questions haven’t asked so far by any jouranalist to the president Isayas and as far as i know nobody confront the pr. this way.Good start(fresh start).Keep the good job.we are brothers and sisters.

  28. Great interview… thank you in helping us understand the logic which explains why things are in such a way between two countries that I love. Born and raised in Ethiopia from Eritrean parents and currently living in the U.S., I have nothing but love for both countries. I hope the time is nearing where we can live side by side like the U.S. and Canada; Where a person is not judged by the context of his tribe or nationality, but of his character. We learned from history more fortunate nations use intentional, malicious, and destructive policies to divide, control, cause havoc, misguide, disfranchise, enslave, destroy, colonize, use/ abuse… in short to take advantage of the less fortunate ones. Many foreign powers have been giving us bombs to plant instead of seeds to grow. There has never been a nation that achieved success without having peace. No peace no growth. Not speaking is a cowardly unhealthy act. So when do we wake up. The Big question is Why do the powers that be want us in this position? We are all loosing but who’s gaining? If we see the world, there are no border wars. Nations are uniting for their common interests. We were overshadowed to fight the real economic war instead of the senseless border war. Those are very critical times for developing nations or will be left behind in this technology age. As President George W. Bush try to say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. One country wealth is not just its’ natural resources but more of the quality of individual it produces. And I’ve never seen very dynamic, versatile and hard working people like us. I’m amazed and learned a lot from this interview especially from President Isaias. We have to start from somewhere so keep up the good work.

    Ermias (Baltimore)

  30. I like the questions raised by Elias and the entire response by president Isaias. It was great. In fact, I changed my outlook on Isaias. He is very brainy and genuine. It is a matter of time to see the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea to live together once again after the demise of the woyane clique.

  31. wow, so much positive comments. I think the efforts of ER to create a bridge between Eritreans and Ethiopians is showing results. Great job guys.

  32. As Ethiopian, The interview was some how moderate. Though the journalists should have been neutral and ask question as Ethiopian messenger rather than as against government.
    To be honest, for the first time president Isayas made very positive interview.
    wish best for both countries.

  34. For the first time I listened Presedent Esayas Afewrki’s interview. I found the man to be smart it is amazing.The presedent has a good vision and an outstanding dream for Ethiopian’s and Eritrian’s than our tayrant. He is the man of the 21st century at least he thinks of discussing and talking.
    GOOD JOB Shileshi Tilahun and Elias Kifle
    God Bless Ethiopia!!!

  35. Elias’ achievement is truly remarkable. It shows what a single individual, with enough guts, conviction, vision and determination can accomplish. Mr. Elias’ burning love for his country and his remarkable courage deserve the highest praise from both Ethiopians and Eritreans. In the course of a few ground-breaking interviews, Elias and his comrade, Mr. Sileshi, have managed to smash to smithereens the dreadful misconceptions and stereotypes that were purposely created around Eritrea and our honorable president by the evil Woyane and the malevolent Western Media. As an Eritrean, who wishes to see our two countries live and prosper in peace and harmony with each other, I congratulate and commend Mr. Elias for opening the until-now firmly shut window of communication between our two peoples.

  36. That was the initial view point, of the great peace loving Eritrean people. and I have no doubt it is the same of the great peace loving Ethiopian people.
    Now it is clear to any one who wants to open his eyes, that the source of misery, the source of bloodshed, the source of shame and indignity is woyanne. If that is the case, to put an end to this, where do we start? First for those we stand against our conscious because of our ego (false sense of self) we need to swallow that, and work together, for our own good, don’t be surprise those woyannes they are going to come as good Eritreans, or good Ethiopians, to distort the fact, let’s stay true to our self, not be misled by woyanne. In regard to president Isaias, I been known him for the past 32 years at times close, when things got rough , even some times we second guess him, but time and again he prove us wrong. No matter what happen the people of Eritrea got great unique respect for this guy, simple reasons he is selfless, he speaks his mind no matter who is he speaking, overall he led us through dark times. If we work together, we will shorten the suffering of our people.

  37. Elias

    As an Eritrean I am very proud of the work that you are doing. We Eritreans have known about WediAfom (as we call him) since we were in our mothers womb. The only difficulty that we had was explaining to Ethiopians and other africans on his leadership quality. Partly because he is a very different kind of leader among the african leaders that we are familiar with. BUT today you did it for us. We thank you.. Please keep up the good work.

    BTW: to everybody else we should all support Elias go to the next level with his site. Count Me in

  38. Even though I was born in Addis, as an ERITREAN I have a lot respect for ETHIOPIANS. I am believer in PIA when he addressed the true meaning of helathy realtionship among us. He also went further in addresing the facts not PROPAGANDA, as meles will say it. Lots of Ethiopians were kept in the dark about the past and PIA has addressed them thoroughly. The Qs were pretty strong & factual. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!!! Lets build on this & move forward!! Even here in atlanta lots of hate was build on PIA. Shame on those who want him gone! This man has a BIGGER dream for both contries. History will tell the true identity of those who live in the dark.

    Great job guys
    Thanks a million

  39. Hello dear Bro and Sis.

    I would like to extend my gratitude to the professional journalists. It is an exceptional interview by its kind since post border war. It is a jump start to reconciliation between the two people. I would also say it is a way to a positive engagement.

    Out of the 2 interviews, one big word thrown by The President of Eritrea which is THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, in my view the president genuinely displays his full willingness to an issue concerning East African; particularly Eritrean and Ethiopian.
    I hope EVERY ONE take the interview in good faith and rationally.

    Thanks once again to Elias and Shileshi

  40. i am a proud of PIA as my president. wow how he is genuine! i think this interview is a good lecture for all peace lovers in Eritrea and Ethiopia about how we will work together as “neighbors” and it help us to know more about the “minority clique in addis.” let us open new chapter of history and be sure on same page and work together for common economic goal. enough is enough! respect each other and listen each other guys. “sky is limit” as PIA said, if we want to create solid relationship long live for PIA. he is really hero. thank u Mr. President. God bless you.

  41. Thank you!! Elias and Shileshi, for the interview and for introducing PIA to our Ethiopian brothers, I hope everyone get to know him better, so they can understand what he stands for. Brothers it is time for us to work together for the good of our people. Viva wedi Afom we love you.

  42. good job Elias and Shileshi. congratulation for this successful interview. now we have common aim and long-term ambitious target. we have to work together for peace and development. our campaign slogan is “THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!”

    Eritrean brother

  43. Wondu,
    thanx, I finally got to watch the video and nothing was wrong with my computer! (I guess i was amongst the 1st ones to try to watch it) President Isaias was so genuine that he reminded me of my Eritrean friends and their “libe kenanet” unlike some ‘libe-siwirs” in our country, you know who am talking about. How delighting it is to hear genuine things from politicians!

  44. Thanks for this interview I think PIA is there to serve his country and not the interests of the West. I wish we had just a couple of African leader like him! Some interest groups have been fixing stories and doing propaganda giving him bad names. However He is indeed a trustworthy leader, not like the Weyane junta in our country. If he was selfish, he would invite every NGO to pump some aid money to his pockets. But this man don’t want to make the same mistakes other corrupt African leader did. I believe PIA is a genuine leader. This step both Elias and Sileshi took is a wonderful thing. Let us work together with Eritrea, and include the other countries of the horn. We, all countries in the horn, have every thing in our disposal except peace, and peace is the main ingredient for prosperity. So let us talk and work for peace, and then and only then: THE SKY IS THE LIMIT as the president of Eritrea, PIA said!

    Selam lehulaCHum…peace for all.
    Belete.

  46. Elias
    We have been told about this man lies lies and all lies. we can imagine from the interview his bold and natural way of expressions tell that he is a truthful person. We Ethiopian should be realistic to see what he is doing against the tribalism by woyanes. Let’s work together.

  47. Good job it is time to think beyond borders and ports it is time to be truly independent of economical and poletical colonialism of the west.I beleive that was the message PIA was trying to pass along all these years.

  48. What a great job !!! I am glad to see all the positive response about our believed president especially from Ethiopian brothers and sisters. I have been following all PIA’s interviews for the last 10 yrs. All he has been preaching free and independent Horn of Africa. The west don’t want see that kind of leader who works for his people and country. Even African leaders feel treating by PIA. Because he is selfless and non-corrupt leader. The world major media work hard to tarnish his image and his country. They never talked about what Eritrea’s accomplishment on education and health care. Let’s communicate and be open to each other and not to be fool by western and their puppet propaganda. Peace and prosperity to Horn of Africa!!!

  49. እኛ የሚገርመን እስከ መች ናቹ የምትታለሉት ፈሪዎች ናቹ እንዳንል ጀግኖች መሆናቹህ አውቃለሁኝ.ወያነ ኢትዮጵያን እያጠፋት እና እየበታተናት ነው.በዚህች የፕረሲደንት ኢሰያስ አፈወርቂ ቃለ ምልልስ የተገረማቹህ ይመስለኛል.ይህ ከባህር በጭልፋ ነው ተጠይቆ የመለሰላቹህ ኩቡር ፕረሲደንት ኢሰያስ አፈወርቂ ..

  50. Thank you Elias for paving the way so that Eritreans and Ethiopians can work together to bring about peace and stability in the region with full trust and without suspicion. Now that the suspicion and unfounded fear seem to be addressed, the people of both nations need to coordinate their plan on how they can benefit one another, beit economically or socially, without undermining one another. It’s suffice to say that, given a conducive environment, a prerequisite of which are peace, stability and mutual respect, Eritrea and Ethiopia have so much to offer to each other that would improve the lives of its inhabitants in every aspect. I know that this is the beginning of a healthy relationship between two brotherly people. We have a long way to go for, as in all struggles for postivie changes, there will be obstacles, detractors and blackmail. But, with reselience, determination and hard work, there’s no doubt these objectives will be met.
    Peace and Prosperity to the Mutually respected peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Down with Tribalism and Ethnocentric Attitude.

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