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Eritrea: 2008 Would Provide Additional Impetus to the Integrated Drive for Liberation, Development And Prosperity - President Isaias
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Shabait.com (Asmara)
6 January 2008
Posted to the web 7 January 2008
Asmara
In an interview he gave last night to the national media in connection with the New Year, President Isaias Afwerki underscored that 2008 would provide additional impetus to the "Integrated Drive for Liberation, Development and Prosperity" thanks to the major achievements already registered in infrastructure development facilities and technological machineries.
In the interview highlighting multi-sector issues, the President underlined that in view of the fact that the action plans have been outlined sector by sector, concerted and serious endeavors should be exerted to further reinforce the impressive achievements so far registered through applying new work methodology and overcoming bottlenecks.
Stating that the set target in agricultural development has not yet been attained, President Isaias underscored the encouraging activities in soil and water conservation should be stepped up until complete success. In this regard, he indicated that conducive atmosphere should be created that would encourage investors and put in place the necessary infrastructure and service-rendering facilities to this end. Although the investments made up to now in the domains of agriculture, Agro-industry, tourism, fisheries and mining are modest, the fact that the current stage already reached in these sectors through overcoming coordinated conspiracies is in itself encouraging.
The President went on to explain that as development is measured in terms of its fair distribution to the greater portion of the area of a given country and the change it brings about in the life of each citizen, nationals should have equal access and opportunity to national resources. Moreover, he noted that the realization of this goal requires sufficient resources, time and work. In spite of the limited accomplishments made in this sphere, it is nonetheless gratifying taking into consideration the challenges encountered and the short span of Eritrean nationhood, President Isaias added.
As regards the border issue, the President noted that despite the fact that the EEBC ruling of April 2002 in accordance with the Algiers Agreement is final and binding, demarcation on the ground did not take place over the past five and half years due to the different obstacles posed by the TPLF regime and its collaborators, as well as their delaying ploys and diversionary tactics. Noting the lost opportunities resulting from such futile attempts designed to derail matters from the legal course and process, President Isaias pointed out that nonetheless all the deceptive and misleading ploys have been foiled through the Eritrean government's patience and resolve to meet the challenges.
The President further pointed out that the Boundary Commission was compelled to close down its office by consummating the border issue through virtual demarcation since border demarcation on the ground could not take place due to the non-compliance of the TPLF regime and the complicity of its collaborators. In this connection, the President stated that as far as Eritrea is concerned, the issue is not that topical since it has been concluded on the basis of the Algiers Agreement and there is noting that can alter it.
Citing that virtual demarcation is not only more potent than erecting pillars on the ground but also reinforces and makes the EEBC ruling of 2002 indisputable, President Isaias asserted that the virtual demarcation has brought an end to the TPLF regime's and its collaborators' ploy of beating around the bush over the past five and half years. He added that Eritrea strongly believes that starting from the signing of the Algiers Agreement up to the closing down of the Boundary Commission's office, the issue and all the chapters in the process have now reached a legal conclusion and that the Agreement itself has actually been implemented.
In reply to a question concerning corruption, the President noted that relatively speaking Eritrea stands on better ground. However, he cautioned against complacence taking into account that corruption is an epidemic that impedes development and one that cannot be uprooted in one go, thus requiring effective control. In this regard, President Isaias called on the public at large to work diligently in combating corruption.
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The President also shed light on current issues pertaining to the region and the world at large.
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