The Red Sea Is Slipping into Total Arab Control – Amb. Cohen
December 28, 2015 Hey, all you Abyssinians out there. While you are wasting time squabbling with each other and not talking to each other, the governments of the Arabian Peninsula are eating your lunch. Have you noticed
Hey, all you Abyssinians out there. While you are wasting time squabbling with each other and not talking to each other, the governments of the Arabian Peninsula are eating your lunch.
Have you noticed that warships from the United Arab Emirates are operating out of the port of Asab 24/7? Their interest is in Yemen, not in Eritrea or Ethiopia. There are reports that Saudi Arabia has taken a 50-year lease on Asab. If that is true, the next step will be Sharia Law in the Horn of Africa big time.
I think it is time for Abyssinians to take back control of the west bank of the Red Sea before it is too late.
One way to accomplish this is for Eritrea and Ethiopia to finally end the war of 1998-2000 and normalize relations. It can be done as a win-win.
Eritrea and Ethiopia should send delegations to a neutral venue, like Geneva. With the two delegations present, the following agreements will be signed:
- Badme will be returned to Eritrean control pursuant to the Algerian arbitration agreement.
- Immediately after the symbolic return of Badme to Eritrean control in a brief ceremony in the morning, that afternoon, the two delegations will negotiate the following agreements:
- Each government will guarantee that its territory will not be allowed to be used by elements hostile to the other government as a base for destabilization of the other government.
- Pre-war economic relations will be restored to the status quo ante, including a dedicated duty-free Ethiopian section of Asab Port under a 50-year lease at an indexed rental.
- The IMF will be requested to establish a currency exchange daily settlement regime between the Birrh and the Nakfa.
- There will be free movement of persons between the two countries, including the right to work and establish businesses.
- There will be embassies established in both countries with an exchange of ambassadors.
- The border will be totally demilitarized.
- Merchandise produced in each country will not be subject to trade duties in the movement between the two countries. The two countries will have a common external tariff.
- Establishment of security control and the exploitation of resources in the Red Sea will be joint.
Upon the signature of a final normalization agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the following will take place:
- The United Nations Security Council will lift sanctions against Eritrea.
- Eritrea and Ethiopia will jointly negotiate Red Sea security agreements with Arab countries bordering on the water way.
- Eritrea and Ethiopia will jointly guarantee the security and neutrality of the State of Djibouti.
- Eritrea and Ethiopia will agree to exchange intelligence about terrorist activity in the Horn of Africa.
The foregoing is a list of ideas that are out on the table. It is imperative that Ethiopia and Eritrea begin to normalize. Otherwise, the countries east of the Red Sea will make major inroads west of the Red Sea to the detriment of both countries as well as to American interests.
Source:HANK COHEN’S AFRICA BLOG
Hager December 30, 2015
Ambassador Cohen couldn’t hide his mission anymore. His current proposal is nor more or less than What another US official said about 60 years ago.
” The people of Eritrea Deserve independence but for the national security interest of the US they need to be federated with Ethiopia”
fetsum abraham December 30, 2015
Sounds good but how about z peple,s ssue of freedom and democracy in eritrea? The dictator got to go for the good propisals to work. Eritreans cannot afford to normalize relationship with ethiopia wizout badme and wiz this dictatorship in post because it doesnt represebt us. Period
Simon G. December 30, 2015
a dedicated duty-free Ethiopian section of Asab Port under a 50-year lease at an indexed rental. [Cohen]
Eritrea and Ethiopia will jointly negotiate Red Sea security agreements with Arab countries bordering on the water way. [Cohen]
Excuse me but what’s got Ethiopia to do the Red Sea? Are you telling us Eritrea to be annexed again?
BTW, weren’t you lobbying for the HGDF, till recent days? Now you are sounding on the Ethiopian side. Or, these are all the same? This is very fishy.
AHMED SALEH !!! December 30, 2015
Let’s go back to his past reputation against Eritreans struggle and afterwards against Ethiopian government , that speaks the volume before we take him trustworthy person .
yohannes December 31, 2015
you don’t know Simom we are failed , who gave you this shape to Eritrea are not the Italians? , the shape of Sudan, Kenya , Uganda , Somalia, and all the colonized world has been given shape, before colonialism they where shapeless and without name.
Do you know the name of your country before Italian colonialism off course no. if you yes say no, then never this name in our land .
Even me I don’t know therefore don’t say any bla bla because you don’t know. I and you we are ignorant but we have been baptized by the name Eritrean , and Ethiopians they don’t know the red sea.
ኣባ- ዳህሪ December 31, 2015
Dear pal,
can U pls show us any singel map of Africa with Ethiopean current baunderies before the Eurpoiean colonization of our corner?
Genet-orginal January 3, 2016
yohannes
You need to go to tigrayonline where you belong and a site that doesn’t allow any body, but your kind. You are exposed, so stop pretending to be one us. I don’s mind, if have to spend my time debunking your false prophecy. That way my Eritrean brothers and sisters will have unspoiled discussion. You will understand. I hope.
Kulu December 30, 2015
ambassador H Cohen got this point right. It is a frank comment, no bars hold. While the Eritreans and Ethiopians, be them Afar, Tigrinya, Tigre, Saho, Amhara or Oromo … are all starving, enslaved, organ harvested, became refugees and homeless everywhere, plus squabbling, arguing nonsense and fighting each other, the Arabs on the east bank and the north of the Red Sea are controlling the sea.
Funny, the fish markets in Massawa, Asmara, Keren and Dekemhare are empty with no smell of fish and the children across the old fish market are starving.
To add insult to injury, some of the most ignorant and twisted evil of the Wahhabist of the Arab world are renting the sea ports and islands of Eritrea for peanuts, a land that can not provide the simplest electric lights even once a week to Asmara city ……
Such is the shame of Eritrea and Ethiopian people.
——
Genet-orginal January 3, 2016
Kulu
As far as we Eritrean concern, the people who used the No war and No peace method against the Eritrean people are equally our enemy who we will never forgive. The No war and No peace brought the Arabs.
Michael Weldu December 30, 2015
eza burkuta imni alata ?
Wedi Zere December 30, 2015
The whole sad and tragic situation that got us in the predicament that we are in today has NEVER been the border issue in the first place but rather the boundless appetite for power of the nasty and brutal dictator that rule the poor nation and its pathetic people today. Although, what has been proposed by the good ambassador sounds good and realistic, its naïve to think that its going to materialize until we deal with the nasty dictator that created the tragic situation deliberately. So in a nutshell, the pressing issue right now should focus on how to get rid of the nasty dictator and deal with other issues later. If we fail to unite and bring about the needed change in 2016, we will continue to sink deeper and deeper with no easy way out and hence no country in the future.
Ezi wedhankum,
Happy New year for all,
aus 17 December 30, 2015
Poor Cohen, your only concern is about strategic ones; Think about the people itself. You seem behind cooking things to make it true. I am against the system in Eritrea, what it does and how it does is all wrong, yet I will never give the security of the red sea to be shared with those who have no share in it.
When you met the Eritrean delegation in London prior to its independence, you were in despair, hopeless, out of line but accepted the deal of two nations. Is it still unpalable for you?
You pretend to save the Eritrean govt. but in reality: I afraid you want to sell Eritrea to the South. I Think every Eritrean has that feeling about you. Please Mr. Cohen remove your tail from that area.
yohannes December 31, 2015
Aus, sincewe are not able as a nation , if you don’t want the south go to the North that is what you are doing Mr.
why we blame Cohen , while the petro dollar is functioning very well .
Petro dollar will be paid and directly in Switzerland.
your Eritrean brothers will be killed and died in the desert and Midstream sea . we have not to be stupid , because Eritreans are every where , in Eritrea, in Ethiopia , Sudan ,Libya buried in the Sinai desert, killed in the Mediterranean sea, suffering here and there.
Eritrea without Eritreans then what are you talking about.
For me Every think is Ok. sold to the Arabs ok, sold to the American ok. Why I have to talk to much , I am not in Eritrea and I will never go back , so why I cry for that country .
AHMED SALEH !!! December 31, 2015
The power struggle between Shaebia and Weyane leadership in our region
and their competition to influence foreign countries brought the mess
our region is facing currently . We must learn from Mr. Cohen article
and others foreign forces tendencies in horn of Africa geopolitics .
Eritrean – Ethiopian unresolved conflicts might progress at dangerous
level if they couldn’t recognize the threat beyond political theories .
Many African countries experienced failure because of their governments
dependency on foreign countries financial assistance . Excuses brought of
Assab port is not a problem if we have constitutional government that
respect the rule of law and both countries can gain advantages if they
showed the will to cooperate and work for common interest rather than
act idiots like their African politicians cousins .
Remember either in Ethiopia or Eritrea any thing happen will effect
the people on both side because it is about neighbors nothing else .
Too bad , selfishness , hatred , grudge and ignorance become man
made own enemies . For what , only God knows the answer .
May peace reign in our region for the sake of those poor people .
Nsane January 2, 2016
I wonder how selfish US is; they don’t care on who are footing they only care about future interest – superiority on power in thin world. Our Devil leader is proving our hypothesis that he need to destroy Eritrea. I heard that Djibouti is rented for 90 years to France( If it is true) Ethiopians stop praying for their Djibouti return instead they concentrate to annex Eritrean ports.
Same will happen to Assab 50 years we will not see as ours; we don’t know what will do Arabs may be they will re-rent to Ethiopia. Genzeb tselaeika trekbo b fetawika zbhal kemzi eyu.
Mr. Cohen’s idea might be US plan. At last not only Eritrea all neighboring countries will lost their boundary and may start again Colonialism of US & China over Africa…… mewedaeita zeyblu gedel natu kemzelena kirdeana alo
This alarm is for the whole Africa not only for Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Genet-orginal January 3, 2016
yohannes
You aren’t Eritrean period!
Wedi meriet December 30, 2015
Is this Israeli idea? We want our dignity,no foreign domination,be it Arab ,US Israel.We can solve our problems amicably,after all it was outside forces that ignite the war between the brothely nations.
gerima December 30, 2015
Woyane is in its last legs? Can you smell that?
Berhe Tenesea December 30, 2015
The Eritrean dictator is interested only on collecting and grabbing cash as much as he can in any way possible . He is not interested in the independence and territorial integrity of the nation.
He is giving the control of the port and part of the Red sea coast around it to Arab powers, with out consulting the people.
The implication of this irresponsible act will be huge, in terms of national interest, and territorial integrity.
In Eritrea we don’t have parliament that debate big national issues, every thing is decided by one brutal and greedy dictator. As far as we the people are concerned we are simply the herd or the animals exactly like the animals in the Animal farm run by Mr Jones.
He is selling Eritrea piece by piece to the highest bidder and shame on us for keeping silent and failing to stand up against this sick person.
Thank you for your input and interest on this sensitive and tragic matter.
yohannes December 31, 2015
Berhe Tenesea don’t tell to the Eritreans this idea they will kill you
Berhe Tenesea January 2, 2016
Yohannes,
They will not kill me , they will call me Woyane, Jihadist and Agame as usual, as it happened after discussions and demonstrations.
The good news is that the Zombies number has declined by about 80%.
For fun- A former ELF old fighter who reside in Toronto was called Agame time and again by the Zombies. His answer was kemay ghere beyenay eadley emo kirekhbo, chomay euka ybelea mihalekhu kab ab sedet mesakhum bebered mwweraday. His answer was more than enough to shut them off. The zombies now days are on the defensive and many of them on repenting mode.
Death to PFDJ and the hard core Zombies.
Genet-orginal January 3, 2016
Berhe Tenesea
please be careful about yohannes’s comment. he is not an Eritrean and he doesn’t care about Eritrea. his concern about the survival of his people in Ethiopia. he is part of the people who are planning to divide Eritrean in ethnic group and incite a civil war. Why because they want the port of Assab. Please know, when he said “Don’t tell to the Eritreans this idea they will kill you” he is not talking about the PFDJ’s Zombies or Isayas, but the Eritrean people as a whole. He is an anti Eritrean who comes from Tigrayonline. The hate and war monger Tigray gov site. It is all about their denial of the nation of Eritrea. They are crying about the No war and No peace is not effective for them any longer, so they are beating the war drum. Just FYI. We need to be vigilant. God bless our people and our nation.