The use of expressions such as strategic relationship, strategic partnership, strategic orientation to bilateral relationship etc has become a common place in characterizing bilateral relations between different countries or organizations. The term strategic generally has two connotations.
• It is a long- term relationship with common vision and shared interests and concerns, but not a tactical, short-term or fire-fighting relationship.
• The national security of the two countries forms one of the components of the bilateral relationship. The essential elements of any thought are the definition of its purpose. The definition of the goal determines and configures the means. Human nature is about striving; but it makes little sense to striving unless and until a person or a nation has an idea about what it is for. Intelligent action requires conscious purpose. Future direction, a coherent understanding of both present and the past, moral values, means, and methods, all are determined, by the definition of purpose. The Eritrean opposition organizations have been waging their struggle to erect democratic governance in Eritrean for the last fifteen years with their base or centre of their struggle in the neighboring countries. To date no organization can clearly define the relationship it has with any neighboring country they reside in. To get intellectual and moral support, to expect tangible material and logistical support, to have unwavering political backing where ever needed, one has to have defined relationship with the country or organization.
Here is a brief overview of our neighboring countries current existence.
SUDAN------ Sudan is expected to be the grain basket of African. But, the fertile land, and the natural gift of the Nile water is under utilized. When you cross the border to Egypt , some can easily notice the difference on how the two countries use the Nile water. With the discovery of oil reserve, Sudan has the potential for development.
I would say resources are not enough by themselves, governance also play great role.
• There is economic disparity in the country. The south, eastern, and western parts are almost neglected. The central and northern parts of the country are the main beneficiaries of the economy and this is recipe for conflict.
• Imposition of one religion on others like introducing Sharia law to govern with is another blunder to the Sudanese religious reality in the country.
• The question of the right of nationality was also a factor for internal instability. The internal conflict as the result of the above factors used to go beyond borders, but nowadays the government seems to have realized the obstacles, solved the thirty years war with the south and is negotiating with the western and eastern regions of the country and is tiptoeing in the right direction. The discovery of oil is becoming a magnet for imperialism. Democracy is still suppressed in Sudan .
ETHIOPIA —the southern parts are still virgin land, ample rainfall in most part of the country and most of the rivers flow year round and are good enough for developing hydroelectric power. The potential for development is real.
The country used to be administered by feudal lords for decades, who had no desire of investing in the country, but prefer to safe guard their luxury by investing in western banks. Then brutal military regime administered the country for seventeen years. Terror was the order of the day. I wouldn't say there was a clear beneficiary of the country's economy, but the western banks and the arms dealers.
I dear to say a revolutionary change took place in Ethiopia with military victory of the present government over the military junta.
• The first thing the government tackled is the constitution of the country. They drafted and enacted a constitution that recognizes the political right of nationalities. This is great satisfaction for Ethiopians who have been deprived all this years of such political right. People if they feel free they vote for their interest. I don't think elitist democracy will work in Ethiopia any more.
• Rural areas are the main beneficiaries of the Ethiopian economic development these days.
• The euphoria of military victory over the military junta in 1991 tempted them to use it against other governments like Sudan and Somalia, but quickly realized their adventurous activities that violets sovereign rights and are now building healthy relationship with it's neighbors except Eritrea.
Even though there are sporadic armed conflicts in some parts of the country, civil disobedience on certain occasions one can say Ethiopian democracy is inching towards peace and stability.
Somalia — it has been almost fifteen years since the law of the jungle governs in Somalia . By all accounts Somalia is expected to be stable and peaceful than any other African country for the reasons below:
• The people of Somalia are of one nationality except for tribal and clan lines. This should have been a blessing for cohesiveness.
• The Somalis are all Moslems and this is another factor for being unified.
• They all speak the same language except for some dialect that means there is no communication problem that leads to misunderstanding of each other.
We admit it is beyond us to correctly analyze the political situation in Somalia .
DJBUOTI--it is small country at the tip of the horn. The presence of a foreign Army which is French army bothers us. No body knows whether they are there to suppress internal uprising or protect the country form outside invaders.
Areas of strategic relationship of democratic Eritrea we expect the opposition (that is the EDA} to hammer out can be categorized into three.(our focus would be strategic relationship with Ethiopia on this article).
• ECONOMIC – Ethiopia and Eritrea have been using each others products through out their history, even during the colonial era. At present Ethiopian products are being imported from the Arab countries into Eritrea . Eritrea has good ports, while Ethiopia is looking for easiest, safest, quickest, and cheapest way of delivering of its imports and exports. This is a win- win situation where every nation gains. Energy resources are plenty in Ethiopia where Eritrea could have easy access that keep both countries economies sustained and growing. The economic advantage is not limited to the ones we mentioned, but a lot to be added. Eritrea and Ethiopia should not be countries that compete, but cooperating ones instead.
• SECURITY-RELATED- Eritrea is a neighbor to at least five countries and the same with Ethiopia . Cross-boarder violence is a concern of both countries, but their strategic relationship can minimize it if not eliminate it. Terrorism and sabotage is the drawback to development and innovation that the two countries have to tackle together. They can be effective in their voice of weapons of mass destruction if they work together. There is a lot to gain, but nothing to lose if strategic relationship is achieved.
• POLITICAL - Past political experience of the two countries whether destructive or constructive is a shared one. There is a lot to analyze and learn and set for future directives out of it. Ethiopia is the home of more than fifty nationalities. Eritrea is also the home of more than nine nationalities. We can learn on how to deal with the issue of governance. The issue of the question of nationalities and religious freedom is a burning issue in both countries. We need to exchange expert ideas on these issues from both countries. The issue of nationality rights and religious freedom is of whether you believe in democratic right or you give lip service to democracy. It is not an issue of constitution, but an issue of governance. There are and were national constitutions which deny democratic rights. If organizations do not want to clarify their stand on democratic rights issue and want to hide behind referendum, it is obvious they are not democratic; rights issue is not a majority or minority issue, but whether you are democratic or pseudo-democratic.
When we deal with regional and international organizations and countries we can be effective and fruitful when we cooperate rather than we compete.
It is ironic to read what some Eritrean politicians of about three organizations down play the importance of strategic relationship of the opposition with Ethiopia . Some try to label it as invasion, intervention, occupation, while others state it as shameful and destructive. These politicians and organizations can be put into two groups. The first group is of the type “all the grapes are sour”. What ever the opposition suggests or implements are fudge unless they are in the throne. The second group is of the type “people of limited knowledge condemn every thing beyond their level of understanding”. One has to present the merit or demerit of the issue to convince others and until you present demerit of strategic relationship of the opposition with Ethiopia we will continue to say fudge to your statements backed up with no reason.
The EAIM calls upon the EDA to put STRATGEIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ETHIPIA as one of the AGENDA in its upcoming congress and we expect them to come out of the congress with a committee that has the mandate to discuss strategic relationship with Ethiopia.
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