Eritrea is Focus of Brussels Meeting
9 November, 2009 | By Lisa Bryant (VOA)
International experts and politicians are in Brussels for a two-day meeting
on ways to harmonize European and American policy on Eritrea and other
parts of the Horn of Africa.
In August, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned the Eritrean
government would face sanctions if it continued aiding Somalia's al-
Shabab insurgent group, which allegedly has ties to al-Qaida. Eritrea
denies arming the group.
Horn of Africa conference spokesman Abdulrahman Sayed says he hopes
it will forge a consensus between the U.S. policy on Eritrea and the
European Union one, which he describes as more open to dialogue with
the Eritrean government.
"What we hope this conference [will] accomplish is to at least produce a
guideline with some concrete recommendations by both the United States
and European Union policy makers as well as other players like legislators
and commissioners and also allow the civic society and political
opposition figures in the diaspora to be engaged with those parties in the U.
S. and the European Union to direct and influence their policy in Eritrea,"
said Abdulrahman Sayed.
While Eritrea is the focus of the conference, participants from
neighboring Horn of Africa countries have been invited. Eritrea's internal
problems, including widespread allegations of human-rights abuses, are
spilling across its borders. Sayed says tens of thousands of Eritreans
have fled to Sudan and Ethiopia. Others seek refugee status in Europe
and the United States.
Conference participant Woldeyesus Ammar wants clearer from Europe
and the United States. Ammar is chair of the Joint Leadership Committee,
an umbrella organization of Eritrean opposition groups that plans to form a
political party by the end of the year.
"Any action against the regime has not been cohesive," said Woldeyesus
Ammar. "They [Europe and the United States] have been pointing fingers
against the regime, but not doing more than that. It has been always talk,
but no action. We want them to do some action now."
Organizers hope the Brussels talks will lead to a more active international
policy toward Eritrea that possibly includes targeted sanctions against the
government.
Courtesy
9 November, 2009 | By Lisa Bryant (VOA)
International experts and politicians are in Brussels for a two-day meeting
on ways to harmonize European and American policy on Eritrea and other
parts of the Horn of Africa.
- The meeting is
sponsored by Europe
External Policy
Advisors, a Brussels-
based research group.
It is being held amid
mounting international
concern about Eritrea's
human-rights policy and
allegations the Eritrean
government supports
Islamist insurgents in
neighboring Somalia.
In August, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned the Eritrean
government would face sanctions if it continued aiding Somalia's al-
Shabab insurgent group, which allegedly has ties to al-Qaida. Eritrea
denies arming the group.
Horn of Africa conference spokesman Abdulrahman Sayed says he hopes
it will forge a consensus between the U.S. policy on Eritrea and the
European Union one, which he describes as more open to dialogue with
the Eritrean government.
"What we hope this conference [will] accomplish is to at least produce a
guideline with some concrete recommendations by both the United States
and European Union policy makers as well as other players like legislators
and commissioners and also allow the civic society and political
opposition figures in the diaspora to be engaged with those parties in the U.
S. and the European Union to direct and influence their policy in Eritrea,"
said Abdulrahman Sayed.
While Eritrea is the focus of the conference, participants from
neighboring Horn of Africa countries have been invited. Eritrea's internal
problems, including widespread allegations of human-rights abuses, are
spilling across its borders. Sayed says tens of thousands of Eritreans
have fled to Sudan and Ethiopia. Others seek refugee status in Europe
and the United States.
Conference participant Woldeyesus Ammar wants clearer from Europe
and the United States. Ammar is chair of the Joint Leadership Committee,
an umbrella organization of Eritrean opposition groups that plans to form a
political party by the end of the year.
"Any action against the regime has not been cohesive," said Woldeyesus
Ammar. "They [Europe and the United States] have been pointing fingers
against the regime, but not doing more than that. It has been always talk,
but no action. We want them to do some action now."
Organizers hope the Brussels talks will lead to a more active international
policy toward Eritrea that possibly includes targeted sanctions against the
government.
Courtesy
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