Asmara — Eritrea Festival 2008 in Italy opened yesterday in Rome in a colorful manner. The Minister of Defense, General Sebhat Ephrem, opened the Festival in which the Eritrean Ambassador to the country, Mr. Zemede Teckle, and other government and PFDJ officials, as well as thousands of Eritrean nationals from different Italian regions are participating.

Various programs, including cultural and sports activities, children's program, traditional shows, arts exhibition prepared by Italian friends of Eritrea, as well as a seminar on the objective situation in the Homeland and others are being featured in the event.

Reports indicated that the Eritrean Community in Italy and national associations are taking active participation in the Festival, and that the Keih Meret Cultural Troupe from Asmara is staging musical performance, thus adding color to the Festival which would continue tomorrow.