Imporant Statement

8 January 2003

Negotiation Committees drawn from the General Secretariat  of the Eritrean National Alliance (ENA) and the Eritrean Liberation Front – Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC) met on 8 January 2003 to sort out the differences that arose during the 5^th Regular Session of the ENA and seek ways and means of consolidating the unity of the components of the Alliance.

With the objective and spirit of maintaining the unity of Eritrean opposition forces, both sides openly discussed the problems that led to the rise of such differences on their first round meeting. In the shortest time possible, the committees pledges to announce to the people about the promising steps that had been taken that would enable us to advance ahead by avoiding differences, reviving the unity of the Alliance and promoting the principles enshrined in its Charter.

The Committees would like to affirm also that they have agreed to refrain from making any statements on the side during the course of the meeting. In addition, while commending the support provided to the Eritrean opposition in general and the ENA in particular, the Committees calls on the media and Eritrean websites to avoid issues that widen the gap and instead base their information on proven sources and statements made by the committes. The Committees shall then release a statement upon conclusion of their meeting.

Signature of the Committees:

Mohammed Tahir Shengeb                                                Ahmed Mohammed Nasser

Chairman of the Dialogue Committee                                  Chairman of the Dialogue Committee

General Secretariat f the ENA                                                                ELF-RC