EU’s Controversial aid to Eritrea
Q & A with Woldeyesus Amar head of the Eritrean People’s Party (EPP) who describes the EU move as “wrong and indefensible”
Q: Why has the EU decided in favor of sending $160-million aid to Eritrea without
condition despite widespread opposition from many quarters including the Eritrean civic
and political opposition, the US government, and several human rights groups?
A: It was with intense shock and outrage that many Eritreans inside the homeland andabroad received the news of EU’s final decision on granting aid to the repressive regime in
Asmara without any pre-condition for respect of human rights, democracy, rule of law and the
other the key stipulations of the Cotonou Agreement. The justifications given by EU, which do
not hold water, include their wish to keep a window of opportunity for dialogue with this callous
regime to continue begging it to change. The EU knows well that it is taking a wrong action but
erroneously thinks it may be helping in a small way to check the Eritrean and regional situation
from worsening further.
Q: What message is the EU sending to the Eritrean people and their government which
is widely recognized as the worst violator of human and democratic rights in Africa?
A: By approving this grant over which it has no effective control except the usual false pledgesof the concerned regime, the EU is doing nothing but expressing disrespect to the wishes and
aspirations of our people who are yearning for change and democratization.
Q: Why does the EU think quiet diplomacy would work for Eritrea and not forZimbabwe?
A: Quiet diplomacy has not worked in Eritrea for many years now and will never work. No single
European country has direct interest in Eritrea as a few EU members have in Zimbabwe. For
this reason, EU shows some care for Zimbabweans and literally nothing for Eritreans. What
appear to be mattering to the EU are imagined European interests and not the interests of
Eritreans and others in similar bad situation.
Q: There was, doubtless, a massive drive especially from the Eritrean Diaspora and
global human rights bodies questioning the wisdom of giving unconditional aid to the
Eritrean government, albeit without success. Was the effort worth it? Could the
campaign have been waged in a better way?
A: We in the Eritrean People’s Party have taken part in the massive diplomatic and mediacampaign to stop the EU grant. We faxed a strong memorandum to the European Commission
Presidency on 6 September 2008. Again on 27 March 2009, we and the Eritrean Democratic
Party sent a joint delegation with another memorandum to Brussels protesting against the plan.
The campaign was worth it because it has put on the limelight that the regime in Asmara does
not deserve assistance. Such action can only give it unwarranted lease of life.