|
Senior Netherlands Government
Officials
Briefed on Eritrean Situation
Nharnet
Stringer (Europe)
On 22
April 2008, Mr. Alle Dorhout, head of the Horn of Africa and West Africa
Divisions in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Wouter
Wessels, Policy Officer for the said divisions, were briefed in a
meeting in their office at The Hague on the current situation of the
Eritrean people inside the homeland and of Eritrean refugees exiled in
the neighbouring countries.
Mr. Mehari
Tesfamariam, member of the ELF-RC leadership council, briefed the senior
Dutch officials on various issues including the upcoming May 5 congress
of the Eritrean opposition organizations, the preparations being made by
the Joint Party Formation Commission for establishing a broad-based mass
party this coming summer, and the agreement of understanding reaching
last March 2008 between the ELF-RC and the EDP (the Eritrean Democratic
Party) towards forging closer working relationship in order to speed up
the removal of the dictatorial regime and establish democratic
governance in the country.
The ELF-RC
leadership member also explained in great detail the plight of Eritrean
refugees, especially in the Sudan and Ethiopia, and called on the
officials to recommend emergency support to a suffering people. Mr.
Mehari Tesfamariam also urged the Dutch officials to raise the problem
of the Eritrean people at the EU regular Horn of Africa group meetings
in Brussels.
The Dutch officials, who were already provided with full documentation
on the subjects of discussion, appreciated the regular briefing updates
they receive from the ELF-RC and pledged to do what they can to assist
Eritrean refugees in the Horn of Africa region. |
