My Dear Compatriots at home and abroad,

Distinguished participants,

I wish to express the profound joy and pride I feel to extend my warmest congratulations to all my compatriots on this 14^th anniversary of our liberation.  Let me also express our gratification by the good omen of the short rains.

Fourteen years is not really long in the life of nations.  And, especially for a country devastated by 30 years of war, it would not be an exaggeration to say that fourteen years is nothing more than the gestation period preceding actual birth.  The fact is counting from zero will not yield the same figures if the starting point of reference is some negative number.  Furthermore, the 14 years of liberation cannot be gauged in absolute terms without qualification.  The impediments imposed on us by the TPLF and its proponnents must indeed be factored out.  But the real issue is not the longevity of time or the complexity of impediments encountered.  It is a matter of measuring actual progress achieved.  In this respect and compared to the normative pace of nations, the developmental achievements that Eritrea has registered in the last 14 years really exceeds expectations and amounts to an output of more than 14 years thereby mitigating the adverse impact of the imposed impediments.  This truth stands out as a factor of hope and pride as we celebrate the 14^th anniversary of our liberation.

Although we have achieved significant progress in the last 14 years, we need to go a long way to resolve all our economic problems and attain the development standards that we aspire for.  Any development endeavour will be successful only when the foundation is laid down and a critical mass vital for economic take-off and sustained pace is accumulated.  This, in turn, means nurturing national capabilities for effective implementation. There could be abundant natural endowments or even "manna" from Heaven.  However, sustainable development will ultimately depend on, and is measured by, the national resources and capabilities to implement the desired objectives without dependence or reliance on others.  And the reason why we say that the hallmark of this year is that of transition is precisely because we have laid down, and almost fully achieved, in the past years, the preliminary phase of putting in place critical infrastructure that is vital for development to take off. Through tireless work, we have built our implementation capacity.  Through tireless work, we have gleaned much-valued experience.  Through tireless work, we have acquired expertise and education.  Through tireless work, we have accumulated machinery and technology.  Through tireless work, we have reinforced our self-confidence.  Through tireless work, we have achieved tangible progress, and more importantly, come to appreciate the bright prospects that lie beyond the horizon.  We have not only worked hard but also chosen to work much harder.  These endowments are not achieved gratuitously like manna.  They require time, sacrifice and patience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I had underlined, in my address last year, that food security remains the priority of our priorities.  Indeed, this has been a policy commitment pronounced repeatedly throughout the years.  It is thus proper to ask specific performance measurement questions.  Have we achieved food security?  What policies did we pursue in this regard and what are the results?  Did we implement the policies we charted out?

It is clear that food security cannot be achieved in one day.  We have implemented most of the major programmes that we charted out to build medium and small dams, to construct diversion canals and terraces, to level farming land etc., so as to introduce modern irrigation methods as a substitute to traditional farming.  We have acquired considerable expertise in the digging of wells although actual output remains unsatisfactory in real terms.  Our agricultural development programmes and the general infrastructural projects that we are pursuing are interlinked and at times overlap in terms of the need and use of machinery.  In the circumstances, delays in the import of critical machinery coupled with the high price of oil have negatively affected some of the projects that rely on heavy machinery.  On the other hand, all the projects that depend on sheer human labour have been fully implemented.  At any rate, the work underway to implement the projects in the coming weeks through much redoubled efforts will complement the achievements obtained so far.

The abundance of rainfall in the main rainy season will certainly influence output.  Still, the work done so far and the irrigation projects underway will represent a cumulative and dependable resource in the years to come elevating us, in relative terms, to a more reliable situation of food security.  We have done what is possible for the harvest of 2005.  What we should focus from now on, without waiting until "sunrise", is to increase the momentum so as to implement with higher efficiency and effectiveness much larger agricultural projects for 2006.  

Our ambition in infrastructural development, particularly the construction of roads and housing, is really huge.  The projects implemented so far are accordingly dwarfed by these aspirations. We are encouraged by the fact that the building of roads in 2005 has been implemented in accordance with the laid down plan.  But what is far more important is our ability to acquire the necessary technology and install a modern plant that will facilitate the building of roads, bridges and other constructional infrastructure.  We have acquired expertise and proficiency in these areas to buttress better capability and readiness.  We cannot claim to have resolved the urban housing problem in any significant way.  But the projects underway and the institutional capacity developed so far are not small.   We are thus certain that we shall advance at a much greater pace in the years to come.   Currently, we are importing construction materials that we could have manufactured here despite the fact that most of the primary elements are found in abundance in our natural resources.  This situation has contributed to a high cost of housing construction.  Focussed efforts are accordingly underway to address this problem satisfactorily.

In fisheries, the investment endeavours pursued in the past years to exploit our maritime resources, which were principally aimed at promoting exports, have not only been fruitless but the trend has remained preoccupying in itself.  It was thus natural to abandon the traditional fishing regime and embark on modern and large-scale commercial fishing and processing phase.  Serious efforts are being undertaken to realise this policy choice.   The purchase of fishing vessels has been delayed due to various obstacles.  The harbours built in Gelaalo, Tio and Iidi, coupled with facilities that require some rehabilitation in Massawa and Assab will contribute significantly to the programme.  Fish processing plants and cold storage facilities that are adequate for the initial period have also been built although they will need phased expansion in the future.   Preparations are underway, knowing full well that these can be resolved at the appropriate time, to address transport requirements, which is a critical chain in the fishing industry, and to secure reliable foreign markets.  Thus, huge efforts are underway to complete, unless they are hampered by objective impediments, all the preparations for essentially making this year a launch pad for putting in place all infrastructural components.

Developing the infrastructure and overall conducive climate for tourism is not as simple as it appears.  And although much has been done in the past to create a climate attractive for tourism, the achievements cannot be considered satisfactory.  A rudimentary basis is, however, already in place.  In view of our pristine natural endowments, development of quality services of high standard in this sector will be critical for the long-term.  It is thus essential to rectify, at the outset, the obvious shortcomings of investments already underway.

Trade policies introduced to ensure that the domestic market is not monopolised by a few and greedy merchants; that competition is enhanced; access to investment opportunities opened to all citizens; prices are rationalised; fiscal regulations respected; and, all business transactions conducted under full transparency so as to ultimately improve the living standards of the majority of the population, to control inflation and stimulate economic growth are certainly making some impact.  But they will need more refinement.  In tandem with this and at a particular time when the cloud of war is looming, the policy introduced to regulate illicit transactions in foreign exchange, which has remained detrimental to our national economy, must be pursued vigorously and firmly to render effective result.

The quality of public transport is dependent on the quality and network of available roads.  In this respect, the difficulties encountered by the population outside the main asphalted roads are evident.   The level of popular participation in the building and improvement of secondary and feeder roads underscore this fact.  The effort, which had been confined to the main roads so far, due to limitations of capacity and shortage of time, will thus need to be refocused to the building of secondary roads.  Consistent with its overall approach, Government policy in public transport remains hinged on the encouragement of the private sector.  Unfortunately, this has led into excessive greed and infringement of fundamental regulations ultimately hurting the customer.  The Government has thus been impelled to take countervailing measures by directing public investment in this sector.  The problems have thus been partially mitigated.  Additional investment will be required to ensure availability of more efficient public transport service that has wider outreach.  

In telecommunications, the extension of mobile telephone services is growing rapidly.  Its importance and utility is illustrated by growing demand.  Expansion of fixed and mobile telephone services coupled with narrow and broadband Internet access through satellite linkup, which is principally aimed at enhancing information services for education and students, are additional communications projects that the Government is pursuing vigorously.

In Health services, besides the national referral hospital that was opened in Asmara, new regional hospitals shall be operational in 2005 in Barentu, Menedefera, Ghinda and Assab.  These facilities will enhance prevailing services both in quality and in terms of physical outreach.   Moreover, the effort was never focussed in building impressive hospital premises but rather in controlling and eradicating communicable diseases including HIV-Aids, malaria, polio and others.  The achievements in this regard are commendable and the endeavours must continue without let up.   In tandem with the efforts underway to increase the scope and quality of available health services, additional endeavours will be exerted to produce more pertinent drugs in the country although the viability of the latter is sometimes questioned in certain circles.

In education, the policy that we enunciated to overhaul the prevailing system is profound and cannot, evidently, be fully and effectively implemented in one year.  Infrastructural investment will require huge financial expenditure.  The development of a new curriculum; and, the simultaneous provision of new books and laboratory equipments will not only require substantial capital but also time.  Moreover, these undertakings require an adequate and effective provision of teachers and educational administrative institutions at all levels.   The overall task is urgent which cannot be postponed.  As such, we have allocated considerable funds from our own internal resources in addition to the efforts underway to secure substantial cooperation from our international partners.   A lot has been achieved so far.   But this is essentially a race with time and intensification of the momentum will require more vigorous efforts and cooperation; especially from teachers and parents.  

Social security has remained an overwhelming task demanding a huge chunk of Government budget due to the deep scars incurred by the 30-year war of liberation and that was exacerbated by the war imposed by the TPLF regime.  Indeed, ensuring the welfare of the affected segments of our population cannot be glossed over.  The various instruments introduced so far to mitigate these compound problems have produced considerable results. Still, it will be necessary to mobilize additional resources so as to ensure its sustainability particularly because the solutions will have to depend, principally, on internal resources.   The additional burden entailed by successive years of drought, and the resultant attitudes of dependency and expectations that it has engendered, are becoming causes for concern.  We have to work seriously to transform the environment from a debilitating to an enabling one. 

In this modern age of development and technology, progress in agriculture, construction, trade, industry, tourism, fisheries, transportation, water, electricity, education, health etc. cannot be envisaged without seriously thinking about, or addressing the issue of, energy in general and the supply of oil in particular.   The hike in oil prices that has occurred in the recent months is not only stifling the economies of poor countries but it has also shaken the economies of the developed countries.  In our case in particular, its deleterious impact was very much amplified thereby negatively affecting many of our development programmes both because of its foreign-exchange dimensions and due to the prevalent policy of subsidy.  The indications are that the price of oil in the international market is likely to increase.  The policies introduced in this regard will thus require constant review by closely monitoring developments that unfold in the oil market.  The rather lax practices of the past will accordingly require appropriate streamlining.  Our aggregate consumption of oil must be adjusted to a realistic amount and become much more geared towards meeting the needs of our important priorities.       

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Incidentally, last April marked the 3^rd year since the Boundary Commission announced its decision. We have closely watched as the Commission presented its report to the Security Council on the occasion. To the distress of the Commission and all proponents of justice, the Security Council bypassed the report and instead of upholding the rule of law, issued a statement intended to dilute and derail the case.  The conduct of the Security Council not only illustrates the crisis that the world is in but also portends the escalation of the process to an extremely dangerous stage.

Although other Security Council members cannot be held unaccountable, it must be stated candidly that the principal architect of this obstruction of law is the United States of America.

As it will be recalled, the TPLF regime had floated, prior to the issuance of the Commission's Report, its hollow five-point "initiative" when all its deceptive and duplicitous aspirations failed.  This "initiative" was suitably wrapped in pronouncements of 'acceptance of the decision in principle.'

Surprisingly, the idea did not originate from the TPLF.  It was conceived by  the backers of the TPLF regime who urged and advised them: "announce your acceptance of the ruling in principle and leave the rest to us."   However, when this balloon was punctured and the smoke that screened it blown away by the wind, the TPLF regime found itself in a tight spot. In an attempt to vindicate itself and create more confusion, it wandered around all forums stating: "We have accepted the decision, but we need to negotiate its implementation".  But all this did not bear any fruit.

The TPLF regime was plunged into a dilemma and its backers did not sleep over it.  All attempts were made to save the TPLF regime by the backers under the pretext that they were "mutual friends of both parties" while promises were offered to coax and delude us.   But, we were not caught unawares.  Because this is not a case of mere political or diplomatic creativity and manoeuvres.  Other secondary issues cannot supersede the rule of law and our sovereignty.  No involved party can, indeed, be misled in these matters.

What is surprising is that after all this, the backers of the TPLF regime are still concocting new balloons.  Not because they are tireless, but because they think it will buy time and cause attrition. Many have started talking about these fresh balloons, which are not yet widely floated but have the following attributes:

1. Appearing to accept and support the decision of the Commission while actually employing subtle mechanisms to undermine it.
2. To promote "dialogue" not through public forums but through secret meetings.
3. To "dialogue" on matters pertaining to Irob and Tsorona; "the houses and churches that will be separated"; as well as port services.
4. To focus on religious leaders and others to promote this scheme.
5. To dispatch renowned African leaders (such as President Obasanjo)  as envoys.
6. etc…etc..

In tandem with these, the revived but defunct game plan includes weakening Eritrea to a position where it would make concessions on the one hand, while on the other; support and encouragement would be provided to the TPLF regime.

Other main components of the game plan include: giving financial, political, diplomatic and propaganda support to the TPLF regime to secure its victory in the elections while simultaneously weakening opposition parties and creating disunity among them; cancelling its debt; granting "development" aid and extending additional economic assistance under the rubric that "food shortage has reached an alarming stage"; providing military assistance to the TPLF regime under the guise of "counter-terrorist cooperation" and ostensibly to "eliminate the so-called 'Al-Itahad' in Somalia" thereby creating the conditions for intervention in that country; and above all shielding the TPLF regime in the Security Council, the United Nations and other regional forums.

In Eritrea, its ramifications include: first precipitating a crisis and exploiting the subsequent situation in what is termed as "management by crisis"; enlisting quislings to sow discord within government ranks; probing for cracks that will foment political turmoil; instigating religious conflict; "reforming" and fragmenting the Coptic Church which is supposedly "supportive of the Government"; inciting other religious groups to conduct hostile campaigns and other provocative acts so as to later conduct a smear campaign against the Government accusing it of "violation of religious rights"; conducting continuous offensive propaganda campaigns; expanding organized networks to instil panic in the youth and to trigger their exodus; dividing Eritreans in the Diaspora and hampering their contributions; creating all kinds of obstacles and delays to thwart development programs; denying development aid by peddling lame excuses on "failure of the Government to fulfil this and that condition"; denying humanitarian aid, and when it is actually offered, making it insufficient and tying it to other agendas and benchmarks.   And above all, smothering Eritrea's legal and judicial arguments in international and regional forums through various means.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We had witnessed, and repeatedly suffered from, unholy alliances that flouted justice and the rule of law in the past century.   But it is disconcerting to see the repeat of these practices, wrapped in pretentious excuses, especially at these times when the clarion call is for advancing "freedom", "the rule of law" and "human rights".

The tragic consequence of this charade is that it entails war. The TPLF regime, emboldened by the support of its proponents, has not only shunned the Commission's decision but views war as the only resort. It is no secret that the TPLF regime is not only beating battle drums again but is preparing for a massive military campaign. The TPLF regime and its backers have realized that all their schemes at frustrating the legal process through various subterfuges, intimidation and stalling tactics have been to no avail.  Hence, they might think that starting a war will provide a getaway.  Like all others in history who miscalculated to choose the path of war, they do not seem to have grasped the perils entailed by their choice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In these circumstances and in an age where the advances of information and information technology are being employed to blur the truth and to deceive and to manipulate people's minds, it is critical to disseminate credible information to uphold truth and justice.  In this vein, we need to augment our information and news dissemination capabilities to ensure greater outreach and without being complacent by the milestones that it has achieved so far. In the diplomatic arena, we shall need to strengthen our organisational and working methods.  Eritreans living abroad and friends of Eritrea need not be reminded that they have a great role to play in these areas.

In as far as war and military preparations are concerned, the reality does not require further elaboration.  Although our legal right of self-defence is not questionable, we have worked patiently, for three years, to solicit the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities.  The Security Council has failed to live up to its mandate as underscored by its latest pronouncement.  Nonetheless, we will not cease to call upon the Security Council to take action.  At the same time, we have no apprehension in confronting what may unfold bearing in mind that the Security Council is responsible for all consequences.

The ugly page that we are preoccupied with today is not a new revelation but something we anticipated at the beginning; three years ago.  Perhaps our patience and constructive interactions were misinterpreted. Yet, we do not regret the time lost due to our tolerance.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is not untrue to say that we have relished the taste of independence more than any other people, taking into consideration the cumulative events of 14 years which consist on the one hand of landmark successes achieved in development; and, of formidable struggle and firmness to preserve our freedom and sovereignty on the other.

As I have mentioned earlier, 2005 is a turning point where we have acquired an effective and enormous capability for rapid development progress.  In tandem with this, I wish to underline that we must pursue with greater vigour the campaign we have set in motion to invigorate our values and customs, consolidate our political work and awareness and to redouble our overall efforts.

I wish to commend the Eritrean people for their unparalleled determination and contributions in the fight to ensure food security, which has been the greatest of challenges.  I sincerely hope that they are rewarded for their efforts.

To the Eritreans residing abroad, I extend my gratitude for their renowned patriotism and love of their people as well as for their unmatched donations and contributions.

I also wish to pay tribute to the Defence Forces, and all the construction companies and units involved, for their pivotal and prominent role in the drive for economic development and defence of the country. I wish them success and progress in all their endeavours.

May we be blessed with as good rainy season!
Victory to the masses!