Asmara — President Isaias Afwerki said that Eritrea has succeeded in creating conducive and reliable grounds for attracting investors in the post-independence period. The President made the statement in an interview he gave to Press TV of Iran.

Noting that major accomplishments have been registered in the construction of road networks, ports and jetties, communications, airports, provision of potable water supply, energy and other infrastructure facilities, President Isaias indicated that encouraging groundwork has been laid in view of the fact that these are the determining factors for trade and investment. He further pointed out that, be it institutional infrastructure or the legal requirements for trade and investment, all have been put in place, and that the governmental system in Eritrea is free of corruption and related malaises. The President went on to underline that the infrastructure facilities constructed and the tasks accomplished over the past 17 years amply demonstrate that Eritrea is heading to a bright future.

In reply to a question regarding the Eritrea-Ethiopia border issue, President Isaias declared: "As we and international law define it, the issue has reached a legal conclusion in accordance with the final and binding ruling of the Boundary Commission, and as such the file is closed." The sole remaining task is for the United Nations and the guarantors of the Algiers Peace Agreement to shoulder their obligations, i.e. seeing to it that the Commission's ruling is actually implemented, he emphasized.

As regards relations between Eritrea and Iran, the President pointed out that the relations should be fostered stage by stage, and indicated that at present bilateral relations has reached a very significant and decisive stage. He also expressed conviction that the visits and meetings between officials of the two countries, in line with the prevailing similar political culture, would enhance and strengthen Eritrean-Iranian ties to the desired level of partnership.

Stating that Iran's activities towards establishing wide-ranged relations of partnership with a number of African countries is quite encouraging, President Isaias stressed that relations with Iran in the economic and cultural domains could provide impetus to aspirations for fostering cooperation programs at the international level. "For the relations with Africa to be fruitful, nonetheless, it should take into consideration the objective situation in the continent," he elaborated. In this respect, the President expressed conviction that the relations Iran seeks to establish with Africa and the initiative it is taking to this end would be realistic and fruitful on the basis of drawing necessary lessons from past experience.