Eritrea, 2010

Let me start by extending my

sincere congratulations to you, Mr. President, and your

country, Switzerland, for your election to preside over

the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. I am

confident that with your extensive experience and

diplomatic skill, you will lead this session to a

successful conclusion. I pledge the support of the

Eritrean delegation in your noble efforts for the

common good. I wish also to commend your

predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki,

President of the Assembly at its sixty-fourth session,

for his excellent leadership. He indeed served us well. I

would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki

moon for his leadership and his report on the work of

our United Nations at the outset of this general debate

(see ).

We meet again, at this sixty-fifth session of the

Assembly, to expound on the state of our individual

countries and to reflect on regional, continental and

global affairs. We come to this gathering year after

year to share our thoughts and explain our positions on

some issues of interest. Yet we realize that the outcome

of our deliberations and resolutions falls far short of

our own expectations, let alone the aspirations of

humanity. We agree that the institutions and procedures

of this Organization have long outlived their time, and

yet we remain paralysed in our efforts to transform the

United Nations.

While the prospects for a rapid reform of the

United Nations system appear to be dim, we cannot

and will not give up. We have to continue to speak out

and work tirelessly for a United Nations that is fit for

the twenty-first century and for a more just and

equitable world. At the same time, we have to focus on

our own nations and regions to ensure a peaceful and

stable environment and a dignified life for our peoples.

It is that perspective that informs Eritrea’s policies at

the national, regional and international levels.

Internationally, Eritrea seeks, through robust and

constructive engagement, to make its modest

contribution to global peace, security, justice and

equity and to the protection and enhancement of the

environment in the face of changes that threaten the

very survival of humanity.

Regionally, Eritrea’s efforts are directed at

securing peace, stability, development and cooperation

in the wider Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions.

We endeavour to contribute to transforming our

dangerous neighbourhood, a neighbourhood mired in

numerous conflicts, into a cooperative and peaceful

region. In that connection, I wish to touch upon some

of Eritrea’s immediate concerns.

In regard to the Sudan, Eritrea is working closely

with the Sudanese parties and with regional and

international actors as the country enters a critical

period in its history. Eritrea believes that the

international community as a whole needs to

wholeheartedly support the parties to the

Comprehensive Peace Agreement as they approach the

momentous referendum date in January 2011, and

beyond. Irrespective of the outcome of the referendum,

relations of trust and cooperation between the parties

are crucial for peace and stability, not only in the north

and south, but throughout the region. For all those

reasons, we ought to encourage the parties to reach

agreement on the post referendum issues and relations

as soon as is feasible. There is also a need to

simultaneously help the protagonists in the Darfur

conflict to finally reach an agreement within the

context of the Doha talks that are set to resume in the

next few days.

On Somalia, it is Eritrea’s considered view, borne

out by the bitter experience and spiralling violence of

the past two decades, that there can be no military

solution to the problem in Somalia. While that

conviction by now is widely shared in the international

community, serious doubts continue to be raised as to

whether the alternative — that is, a Somali-owned and

Somali-driven, inclusive political process — is

possible and practicable.

Eritrea does not by any means believe or suggest

that that is easy or that it can lead to immediate results.

It will undoubtedly be a complex and protracted

process, but ultimately achievable. For, even in the past

two turbulent decades, Somalis have more than once

demonstrated that, given the right environment, they

are capable of finding home-grown solutions to their

problems. Eritrea therefore urges the United Nations

and all those concerned with peace and stability in

Somalia to earnestly engage all Somalis and to give the

37 10-55264

political process the serious and sustained attention it

deserves.

I turn next to the matter of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

While the United Nations grapples with the Sudan and

Somalia, it continues to ignore the grave consequences

of Ethiopia’s continued occupation of sovereign

Eritrean territory, eight years after the ruling of the

Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission and three years

after the Commission ended its work by depositing

with the United Nations the demarcation of the

boundary between the two countries.

Ethiopia’s illegal occupation and the United

Nations silence, which mean the continuation of the

conflict, are exacting a heavy price on the peoples of

Eritrea and Ethiopia and are complicating the regional

situation. I wish to remind the United Nations that

Eritrea awaits responsible and urgent action to end

Ethiopia’s violation of international law and its threat

to regional peace and security.

Eritrea’s constructive engagement on regional

and international matters stems from its firm

conviction that a conducive external environment is

essential for nation-building. As Eritrea enters its

twentieth year of independence, it remains focused on

broad-based and people-centred political, economic,

social and cultural development that will afford a life

of dignity and prosperity to our people. After several

years of consistent investments in health, education,

agriculture and other essential infrastructure, we have

created a solid basis for sustained economic growth. It

is expected that trade and domestic and foreign

investment will provide additional impetus for the

growth of our economy. I wish to seize this opportunity

to extend an invitation to all interested countries and

their enterprises to become our partners in

development.