Eritrean Nationals Celebrate Independence Day Anniversary
Eritrean nationals in Saudi Arabia, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand have colorfully celebrated the 34th Independence Day anniversary under the theme 'Our Cohesion – Our Armour.'
The celebratory event in Dammam, held on 30 May, was attended by Ms. Weini Gerezgihier, Chargé d'Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Saudi Arabia; Mr. Gebremeskel Kidane, Chairman of the Eritrean Community in Dammam; and Ms. Abrehet Minasie, Chairperson of the National Union of Eritrean Women in the city, along with a number of nationals. The event featured various cultural and artistic programs.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Weini emphasized the deep meaning of the theme of this year's Independence Day anniversary, stating that with committed leadership, a united people, and a dedicated Defense Force, Eritrea, just as it did in achieving independence and safeguarding sovereignty, will emerge victorious in national development endeavors.
The 34th Independence Day anniversary was also enthusiastically celebrated across British cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Leicester, Nottingham, Coventry, Newcastle, Wakefield, Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff, and Dublin.
The London event was attended by over 50 government and country representatives, diplomats, friends of Eritrea, officials from the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a large number of Eritrean nationals.
Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Mahmud, Chairman of the Eritrean National Committee, and Mr. Saleh Abdella, Chargé d'Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy, congratulated the people, Government, and Eritrean Defense Forces. They noted that this year's anniversary showcased the profound love Eritreans have for their country and flag.
Likewise, Eritrean communities in the German cities of Munich, Lörrach-Waldshut, Fulda, Bergstrasse, Bremen, Wiesbaden, Rosenheim, Augsburg, and Kaufbeuren celebrated the occasion with cultural and artistic performances reflecting the spirit of the day.
In Australia, nationals in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide, as well as in Christchurch and Canterbury, New Zealand, marked the anniversary with patriotic fervor.
At the Melbourne event, Mr. Kidane Ginbot, Chairman of the Eritrean Community, and Mr. Mehari Tekeste, Eritrea's Consul General, delivered speeches highlighting the heavy sacrifices made for independence and the responsibilities it shoulders to the Eritrean people.
Ms. Jill Morgan, representing the Victoria Council, remarked that witnessing the love Eritreans have for their country does not require traveling to Eritrea. She praised their unity and deep attachment to their homeland.
Eritrean nationals in the French cities of Lyon and Saint-Nazaire also celebrated the 34th Independence Day anniversary with enthusiasm. At the events, participants expressed readiness to play their part in national development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
'Talk to US,' Europe foreign ministers urge Iran as they see 'perilous' moment
European foreign ministers urged Iran on Friday to engage with the United States over its nuclear programme after high-level talks in Geneva aimed at opening negotiations for a new nuclear deal ended with little sign of progress. The talks between the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, France and the EU with their Iranian counterpart sought to test Tehran's readiness to negotiate despite there being scant prospect of Israel ceasing its attacks soon, diplomats said. "The Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed his willingness to continue discussions on the nuclear programme and more broadly on all issues, and we expect Iran to commit to the discussion, including with the United States, to reach a negotiated settlement," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. Britain's foreign minister David Lammy said the European countries were eager to continue talks with Iran. "This is a perilous moment, and it is hugely important that we don't see regional escalation of this conflict," he said. Tehran, under mounting pressure to agree tough curbs on its nuclear programme to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump administration until Israeli attacks end. European ministers spoke ahead of their Geneva meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who signalled that Washington was open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomatic sources said. Washington did not confirm that, though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy by allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal.


The National
a day ago
- The National
Germans and Italians want arms ban on Israel, poll shows
Germans and Italians overwhelmingly back ending arms sales to Israel if humanitarian law is not respected in Gaza, an opinion poll suggests. The research carried out by advocacy group Eko also reveals that citizens of the two countries believe the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended if Israel fails to uphold human rights and democratic principles, as required under Article 2 of the agreement. The poll was taken ahead of Monday's EU Foreign Affairs Council, where ministers will debate the EU-Israel Association Agreement. A review of Israel's actions in Gaza found it may have breached the agreement, according to a leaked document seen by Politico. 'On the basis of the assessments made by the independent international institutions … there are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement,' the European External Action Service concluded. According to the new poll, about 74 per cent of Germans and 92 per cent of Italians support ending arms exports to Israel if it doesn't respect humanitarian law. German arms exports to Israel include engines for the Merkava tank, although these appear to have slowed down. Similarly, 77 per cent of Germans and 89 per cent of Italians believe the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended. Both the final results exclude those who didn't express an opinion. Suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement requires a qualified majority vote among EU member states. Eko says that means the support of major countries like Germany and Italy is essential if that is to happen. 'For months we've called on the EU to use its power to stop this horror,' said Eoin Dubsky, senior campaigner at Eko. 'We now have the people, the momentum, and the legal justification to act. Suspending the trade deal and arms sales isn't just a political option - it's a legal and moral obligation.' An initial request filed by Ireland and Spain in February 2024 to review the agreement was ignored by the EU Commission – the EU's executive arm. But a recent call for a review filed by the Netherlands and sparked by Israel's blockade of aid into Gaza has gained momentum. The Dutch initiative has been supported by Finland, Portugal, Sweden and France. After the US, Germany was once the second-biggest supplier of arms sales to Israel and sold it $354.4 million worth of equipment last year, a ten-fold increase from 2022. But this has dwindled since the early weeks of the war in Gaza and the latest figures show sales to Israel do not feature in the top 10 importers of German hardware. In response to a recent parliamentary question last year, the ministry revealed only $16 million worth of exports were approved from January to August, with only $35,812 in actual weapons for fighting.


The National
a day ago
- The National
Has Europe given Iran an impossible nuclear ultimatum?
European negotiators have insisted Iran must accept that it cannot enrich uranium as part of its nuclear programme, so that peace can return to the Middle East, experts told The National. It is understood that Iran has been agreeable to limiting enrichment to 3.67 per cent, which is the standard level required for civilian nuclear reactors and was part of the previous nuclear agreement. But even this amount is unacceptable to the three European countries, Britain, France and Germany, currently holding talks with Iran in Geneva. 'The Europeans have now started insisting on zero as well, which the Iranians have said is going to be a non-starter,' said Darya Dolzikova, an expert on nuclear proliferation at the Rusi think tank. Iran has engaged in years of brinkmanship by defying international inspectors to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade level. Until the Israeli attacks of the last week, the threat of an assault on its installations seemed to have 'lacked some credibility for the Iranians'. In recent days the regime has appeared to accept the 3.67 per cent figure as a negotiating position, the same amount agreed under the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement. For any deal to last it will have to be signed off by US President Donald Trump who has also insisted on zero enrichment, said Richard Pater, director of Bicom, the Anglo-Israeli think tank. 'It all depends on whether 3.67 is acceptable to Trump or whether he's insisting on no enrichment whatsoever,' he said. 'But it's also this question of whether Trump will accept that [3.67 per cent] to get the big peace deal that he wants. Israel will then have no choice but to acquiesce to the American position.' Ms Dolzikova also argued that the Iranians would not agree to a deal that 'doesn't involve the United States as they are the critical players'. But Israel itself has insisted that it will not back down until Iran completely ends its nuclear programme and has made clear that any uranium enrichment on Iranian soil is something that it will not accept. Hasan Al Hasan, a nuclear expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, suggested that the 3.67 per cent figure was now redundant as 'there is no indication that Israel is in a mood to negotiate'. Having achieved near total freedom of action in the skies, Israel was likely to 'press ahead with its maximalist war objectives of eliminating Iran's nuclear and missile programmes and perhaps even regime change'. He added that Mr Trump's announcement that he would make no decision on joining the attacks - that would benefit from America's massive bunker-busting bombs - for the next two weeks was a signal for Israel to 'get the job done' in that period. But there is also a question whether within that fortnight window Israel, without US bombs, has the capability to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. 'Israel is obviously probably more bullish right now and looking for the removal of the whole nuclear project in its entirety, but it remains to be seen whether that's in their gift,' said Ms Dolzikova. There is also a fear that if 3.67 per cent is agreed by Iran then it might in secret enrich uranium, and conduct a nuclear weaponisation programme viewing it as the only effective deterrent. 'If the regime survives this, then 3.67 per cent gives them another basis with which to start again,' said Mr Pater. 'Israel is under no illusion the Iranians given the chance, will do it all over again.'