Saron Teclu Belay

Family, friends and neighbors of Saron Teclu Belay, a 37-year-old mother of two who is mentally-disabled, have issued a plea for help and offered a reward to help find the woman who has been missing for more than two weeks. Belay was last seen January 8 at 10:00 a.m. after being released from a Long Beach hospital and inadvertently dropped off by a taxi at the wrong location in Norwalk, CA.

Ms. Belay and her two children–Angela, 15, and Johanna, 11—live in Lawndale with her parents, Teclu Hailu, 81, and Nigisty Ghebre, 67.

Earlier this month, family and friends held a press conference to detail the efforts being made to date to find her, and described her inability to care for herself. There is a $10,000 reward for information which leads to her discovery.

Ms. Ghebre reported that her daughter – who was born in Eritrea and immigrated to the United States in 1990 – has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had just completed a two-week stay for psychiatric treatment at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach when she disappeared.

She stressed that Ms. Belay does not know their address and telephone number, is unfamiliar with Norwalk, and is very shy and would not approach people for help.

According to Christopher P. Yuhl, an advisor to the family, when Ms. Belay’s stay at the hospital was completed, Pacific Hospital arranged for her transfer to a supervised care-and-board facility in Norwalk. It contacted Independent Taxi Company to transport her and paid the fare.

The taxi driver took her to an address on 166th Street in Norwalk, a quarter mile from the supervised facility, and left her off in front of a house. Mr. Yuhl added that the only reported sighting of her was at a dairy market.

When notified she was missing, the family notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and produced fliers and distributed hundreds of them throughout the area.

Mr. Yuhl said anyone having information on Ms. Belay should report it to Detective Diane Harris of the Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5510 or to him at 310-827-2800. Source: (Everythinglongbeach)

Follow-up drilling during the quarter by South Boulder Mines (ASX: STB) at the newly discovered Terminator Gold Prospect defined further shallow mineralisation that is considered open in all directions with some compelling targets defined.

Significant results included;

- TBAC014 – 31m @ 1.07g/t Au from 1m including; 8m @ 2.68g/t from 1m;
- TBAC024 – 60m @ 1.30g/t Au from 2m including; 10m @ 4.25g/t from 3m;
- TBAC025 – 14m @ 5.13g/t from 70m including; 8m @ 8.38g/t from 72m.

STB said the Duketon Nickel JV continues to deliver excellent results from the Rosie Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect. Most recent highlights include:

- Hole TBRC070 – 7.00m @ 2.61% Ni, 0.42% Cu, 3.75g/t Pt+Pd from 190m;
- Hole TBDD080 – 3.59m @ 2.27% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 3.10g/t Pt+Pd from 205m including; 0.76m @ 4.98% Ni, 0.25% Cu, 6.98g/t Pt+Pd from 207.84m.

Subsequent to the end of the period, a 15-20 combination RC and diamond drilling program has commenced at the Rosie Prospect with results expected in February.

A drilling contract has beenfinalised and logistics for first confirmation drilling at the Colluli Potash Project, Eritrea, have been confirmed. Drill testing of the buried potash horizons are scheduled for February/March.

The company completed a non-renounceable 1 for 10 non renounceable rights issue and shortfall placement to raise ~ $1.1m from the issue of 5,570,794 new shares at 20cents.

STB held cash at end of period $2.6m + cash in trust ($0.68m) for a total of $3.28m; cash + listed equities ~ $1.6m.

South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing $89-million in project debt facilities for the Bisha gold project, in Eritrea, despite the imposition of a number of sanctions on the Eritrea government.

Head of the IDC’s mining and beneficiation strategic business unit Abel Malinga tells Mining Weekly that the corporation does not expect the sanctions to influence the project at all.

“As I understand it, the sanctions include an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes. They do not target the interests of mining companies operating in Eritrea or the develop- ment of mining projects in the country.”

Canada’s Nevsun Resources head of the Bisha project Stanley Rogers backs this statement, saying that there has been no slowdown whatsoever since the announcement and that the momentum of the project has continued. “I do not expect anything to change with respect to the Bisha project. Our production start date remains the same.

“For investors, the international price of gold is a more decisive factor than sanc-tions imposed on a single country,” he comments.

In July 2009, Nevsun signed extensive loan documentation with South Africa’s IDC and a group of European lenders for the funding of the Bisha project. Currently, the company is still waiting for European lenders to also reconfirm their commitment on the balance of the facilities agreed to at that time.

Malinga says that the IDC decided to sponsor the project owing to the fact that more than 60% of goods and services supplied to the project will be coming from South Africa.

“Before the IDC makes a commitment to funding a project outside South African borders, we ensure that at least 50% of the goods and services will be derived from South Africa.”

The IDC will provide funding in a one-off payment.

Bisha is Eritrea’s most advanced mining project. Its 27-million tons of ore is believed to contain one-million ounces of gold, 700-million pounds to 800-million pounds of copper and one-billion pounds of zinc. Pro-duction is expected by the end of the year.

Before sanctions were imposed in Dec-ember 2009, Nevsun spent a record $21,7-million on its Bisha project in the third quarter of 2009.

Meanwhile, Nevsun Resources has reached a significant milestone in the construction of its flagship Bisha project with the delivery of major equipment to the site in Eritrea.

By the end of December 2009, the company had received delivery of the semi- autogenous mill, the ball mill and the primary crusher. Installation of the mills and crusher has started.

Nevsun president and CEO Cliff Davis says that the installation of the mills forms the critical path activity and their timely arrival maintains the development time-line. The project continues to be on track for operation in late 2010.

The Bisha project is a high-grade gold/-copper/zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit discovered in 2003, brought to feasibility in late 2006 and that began its official development stage at the start of 2009.

The project is positioned to become the first modern-day mine in this north-eastern African country, with yearly production projected to return payable metals of 1,06-million ounces of gold, 9,4-million ounces of silver, 734-million pounds of copper and 1 075-million pounds of zinc.

At current metal prices, the project is expected to generate enough cash in the first two-and-a-half years to repay all debt facilities, in addition to further mine expansion. The Bisha mine will be a low-cost gold producer for the first two years and a low-cost, high-grade copper and zinc producer for the remaining ten-year mine life. Further, resource potential exists at depth and from nearby discoveries within the company’s licence areas.

The project has the strong support of the government of Eritrea, which has a 40% ownership stake in the project company. “Nevsun looks forward to a very productive year in 2010,” concludes Davis. Source: (Mining Weekly)

Westminster

UK Members of Parliament discussed regional security in the Horn of Africa during a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday. Ivan Lewis, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, responded to the debate representing the UK Government.

The debate focused on issues of security and stability in Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen acknowledging the strategic, economic and cultural importance of these countries. However, a great part of the discussion in Westminster Hall centered around the border problem between Eritrea and Ethiopia as a driver of conflict in the region.

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard opened the discussion on Eritrea and Ethiopia by stating, “What happens in Addis Abeba matters”. Mr Pritchard supports his view by arguing that Ethiopia is one of the most stable countries in the Horn. He told attending MPs that he recently made a visit to Ethiopia and that the country reflects stability regardless of ongoing disputes and tensions with Eritrea.

Mr Pritchard was asked by Jeremey Corbyn, Labour MP from the Islington constituency, if he was able to discuss the issue of border dispute with the Ethiopian Government during his visit to Addis Ababa and whether he believes that there is any chance that the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling might be accepted by both parties.

Mr Pritchard replied that he had discussed it with the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and other representatives of the Government. He said that it would help if the court would make the effort to visit the border rather than making judgments based on a map from a room in a European capital.

Throughout the debate the Conservative MP appeared to support Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of causing instability in the Horn with the support of Libya, Qatar and Iran. While the Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs tried to emphasise the complexity of the forces driving conflict in the Horn.

“I wonder whether we are not sometimes too simplistic in looking at goodies and baddies, and whether a much higher degree of involvement is needed,” Mr Corbyn said for instance.

Moreover, Labour and Liberal Democrats seemed to support the view that the Algiers Agreement and the Court of Arbitration ruling might be key to solving many problems in the region.

Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ivan Lewis responded to the debate saying,

“To my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North who raised the issue of the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, I have to say that there was arbitration. The Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary commission made a very clear decision on the border.

Despite our friendship with Ethiopia and our tremendous admiration for the progress it has made, we continue to press it to implement the decision following arbitration. The matter will continue to be a running sore and a cause of much instability until it has done so.

I say to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) who asked the question that we continue to make the case for that recommendation to be implemented, because it is a root cause of the significant instability.”

“We support the sanctions regime against Eritrea because we believe that country has consistently flouted international law, which is why we supported UN Security Council resolution 1907. However, that is not an alternative to engagement. Of course, we want to engage with Eritrea, as well as to insist that it does not behave in a way that undermines stability in the horn. It is very important to get that balance right.”

Watch the debate on link below:

WESTMINISTER HALL VIDEO

There was a tribe of the Hawya in Serae Eritrea, ruled by Dejach De’bul, a strong and feared ruler of Mereb Mellash, about 600 years ago. They were of the Great Belew tribe. He was told that he would have a daughter whose son will crush his rule. When the girl was born, his only child, he had her secluded from the public.

The lonely girl grew up and used to watch people from her window. One day she saw this tall and handsome soldier Ambessajir, and fell for him. He was from far away tribe Selewa from the south, and lived with his mother. She was so obsessed that although he could not come to her home, she had herself rolled with hay and taken to him. The romance did not continue for long when he was discovered and caught.

When he found out who the father was, one of his soldiers, Ambessajir, he had him killed, by burying him shoulder deep and horses running over his head, crushing his skull. This was the highest punishment those days.

At those days, the aristocrats were too feared and had full power over the common man. This daughter of Dejach De’bul, named Mariam Hanna, or Wehadet or We’alet, became pregnant and hid from her father. The son grew up with his mother’s tribe.

One day, the chief was sitting outside and saw boys play with a ball game called the Karsa. Dejach De’bul noticed that one boy played very well that the other boys could not wretch the ball from his hold.

He admired this boy and said, to his aide “If this boy could be one’s grandson?” The aide found this opportunity to tell his master of the story, and answered, “My Lord, promise us not to be harsh and be understanding. Can you promise me one thing- kidan? (In the old times, when one gets kidan, he is allowed to say his word and not be punished) Dejach allowed him to speak and the aide replied? This boy is indeed your daughter’s son”.

The chief was so shocked of his not knowing and his daughter had a bastard, and that he knew nothing of it all these years.

But the whole tribe were dissatisfied that their chief had harshly punished their favourite soldier. Dejach De’bul regretted having killed Ambessajir that he forgave his daughter and had the grandson named as his heir.

The son grew up. His mother used to tell him how her father had his father Ambassajir was killed for loving her. Eritrea has still paternal laws. Other kids scolded him of having no father. As a young man, he wanted to vindicate his father.

He felt very sad of his father’s being punished this way and thought of revenging his death, and decided to wait for the right moment against his powerful grandfather.

He became a man and married and became strong. His grandfather had come to forgive, liking and thrusting and relied on him. One day, Dejach De’bul, his grandfather was going for a trip, which would take a year.

He appointed this grandson to be his viceroy, and had him swear the oath of loyalty, three times, as was customary. But after a month of his travelling, the powerful grandfather was taken sick and died of cholera, in a far away country. The grandson inherited the whole country.

This became ripe time to revenge his father’s death. So he prepared a big feast to all male members of mother’s clan, the Hawya. He had a big tent built right by a cliff, known now as Mi-kit-kat Deku.

He had all fine food served. But inside the beer, he had poison, that is, elephant’s bile, added to it. All the guests ate and after drinking of the poison felt dizzy, and he had them thrown off the cliff, so that newcomers would not notice. The hill he built the tent is still called Das Hawya.

But, one member of his mother’s clan, Gebre Hiwet the blind, had perhaps been suspicious of this grandson. When he came near the tent, he asked his daughter who was leading him, if she could see anyone coming out of the tent. She is to have said the famous words “Das Hawya, zi-atew imber zi-wet-sih aye-re-aynan!” The tent of Hawya, entering only, not leaving do we see. Meaning that see could see them entering the tent of Hawya, but saw no one coming out of the tent.

Gebre Hiwet the blind then cried “This cursed son! He has killed all of my brothers! Quickly, lead me out of here before he kills us too!” And they quickly went away, to flee. The grandson had almost all members killed and then remembered the shrewd Gebre Hiwet the blind. He asked if he had been inside.

When told that he never entered, the grandson realized Gebre Hiwet had been suspicious and had fled. Gebre Hiwet the blind was the only male member of the Hawya tribe to be alive, and he should be killed. In the meantime, having vindicated his father’s harsh death, this new ruler proclaimed that his name was Jir Gedela. He may be the father of the Adkeme Melega’ tribe.

Soldiers were sent in pursuit of Gebre Hiwet the blind. He had gone some time earlier and being wise, he told his daughter to watch out for horses. When the horse hooves were heard, they hid under a tree. He, being blind, counted the horses’ hooves, piling a stone for every horse. After they had passed, the daughter wanted to travel on.

But cautious as he was, he told her to wait until the horses passed, returning. And return they did, having had trouble riding through swampy ground. Then, Gebre Hiwet the blind piled the stones one by one for every horse returning, and all were counted for.

This resting place still bears this incident’s name, i.e. a town called Tera Imni, pile of stone, to this day, in Serae. When they decided to rest from their journey, they did so in what place he named Hadire, meaning, I slept the night. When he was surely far away from danger, they temporarily settled in Ma’reba, sunset, which is still called so, in Akele Guzai.

But he missed his home Serae and wandered to a hilly place and continuously asking if Serae could be seen. In this mountain, in now Segeneiti town, at night his daughter could see lights of Serae. He decided that they would settle there, calling the hill Adi Serae, now known as Aserwe Mountain. There were other tribes already there, the Degera people. They intermingled with them. But they slept in this wild uninhabited mountain.

One evening, a lion that had eaten many goats of the people, roared near them. The frightened daughter cried that they were doomed. The brave blind father told his daughter to heat stones. When the lion came close to them and opened his mouth to eat them, the father had his daughter give the hot stones inside the lion’s mouth that when he fell, the father killed him with his spear. He then told his daughter to cut out the lion’ eyebrows (Fare) and kept it safe.

The next day, Degera man was shouting words of their bravery, and dancing warriors? Dance, that they had killed a lion. A killer scalps the lion’s head and wears the fur around, to show around. All the people assembled and were praising them.

Then Gebre Hiwet the blind asked audience to the chief and was granted so. He said that if the braves had indeed killed the lion, where the lion’s eyebrows were. Surprised, the people noticed the lion’s eyebrows were missing. He then pulled out the eyebrows and claimed he himself had killed the lion. He was much hailed.

They said that if this blind man were brave with his handicap, what strong sons he would rear. For this bravery, he was given land to farm, presently known as the Hawya land, south of Segeneiti town, and a girl, from the Injen (look below) house of Degera village, for marriage. But the girl refused to marry a blind man.

Time went by. They were the only survivors of the Hawya tribe. Without him, there will be no more descendants. He had to bear more children. The only female with him was his own daughter.

He proposed that as they were to perish without descendants, she, his daughter should bear him sons. The daughter was very shocked. He explained. But still, what would the villagers say of this scandal! The father said that people would talk for a short while and forget. To prove so, he told her to go to the market naked, but wearing a hyena’s hide.

When she went to the marked as he said, all people gathered around her sneering and laughing at her. Returning home, she told her father of what had happened. The next week, he told her to repeat with the hyena skin again. She did so. Some cried that the crazy one had come, saying “Is not she from last week?” and were less curious to see her. The third week in the market, nobody bothered her saying is that same crazy one.

Her father now made her understand that people tend to not care after a while, and they lived as husband and wife. She bore him three sons. It is also said that a Degera woman with beady eyes was given to him and she bore him three sons but died.

With his sons from the Degera woman, and these 3 present ones, he settled in the land the Degera people had given to him. They had given him land so they would not quarrel with him over land ownership later. And the land was called Ad Hawya after his tribe’s name. The Degera man who gave him the land was called Zena Gabriel. One son went to Agame.

One to Hazemo, three settled in Segeneiti, and two went further to their land of origin, in Serae. Gebre Hiwet divided his land equally to all his sons, like they were all from one mother. Two of his sons went to his ancestral country to see.

When the two sons arrived in their father’s village, water was scarce with no rainfall for a long time. One of the sons struck his stick on the ground and water gushed out that their horses drunk enough. The villagers who were watching them curiously, happily drew plenty water to their homes. The village elders were astonished of this water. When told of these two strangers, they knew they must be Gebre Hiwet’s sons.

They followed them to Segeneiti and begged them to return to Serae. The villagers asked for forgiveness and begged them to settle there, and they agreed to return after the seven years the community re-divided lands of Segeneiti.

Their former lands and wealth were returned to them. But fearing another ambush, those who returned did not settle in one village, but spread around. They are found in Ad Gawel, Adi Hayo, and Ad Hawya of Serae villages. Now the clan have spread to other areas too, like Ad Zewabo, Wekerti and Enda Emmanuel villages.

About 40 years ago, the Hawya, with the initiation of Aboi Berhane Gurumu (of Hawya tribe in Segeneiti, he told me of this meeting) met in Segeneiti and had a feast in Asmera. Hawyas from Wekerti and Inda Emmanuel were with them. But they did not continue after that. (Other tribes also ceased to meet when the Derg time came and it was too dangerous to move around). Enda Emmanuel village is mostly from the Hawya. In Segeneiti town there are several dozen farmers of Hawya now. Source: (Eritrios Net)

Eritrea said on Wednesday that its economy will be unaffected by the U.N. sanctions imposed on the nation, which were an international response to Asmara’s alleged support of Islamist rebel groups in Somalia.

Punitive measures including an arms embargo, travel restrictions and asset freezes for some of the country’s top officials raised fears the limitations may slow an economy reliant on financial and moral support from the diaspora.

Remittances from Europe, the United States, the Middle East and other African nations are Eritrea’s biggest source of foreign exchange. Analysts say they continue to flow because high-ranking Eritreans travel to other countries and drum up support for the Red Sea state.

Eritrea has dismissed concerns saying sanctions would not slow development.

“The sanctions should not have any impact on investment, no impact on trade, or Eritrea’s external ties with its economic partners,” Yemane Ghebremeskel, director of the Eritrean president’s office, told Reuters in an interview.

“Our development strategy is not really based on injections of development assistance anyway. There are still extensive development plans in place designed to enhance productivity and expand services in education and health,” he said.

The country would build more than 50 new schools this year, he said.

The U.N. imposed sanctions last month because Security Council members say Eritrea has given support to Islamist insurgents in Somalia who are battling the U.N.-backed transitional government. Violence in the Horn of Africa nation has killed at least 19,000 people since the start of 2007.

‘IT’S WEDDING SEASON’

Yemane said average Eritreans were disappointed in the United Nations over the sanctions but they remained fairly indifferent to the measures themselves.

“They know these sanctions have nothing to do with justice or international law. People don’t give it undue weight — it’s January, wedding season, people are getting on with their business and going to parties,” he said.

Yemane reiterated the view of President Isaias Afwerki that the sanctions are baseless and contravene international law.

“Those sanctions are not based on international law. The accusations have not been proved and Eritrea has not been given the opportunity to make its case on an independent platform.”

Last week the President told local media that no solid facts have been produced against Eritrea and no proper legal procedures have been applied to discover the truth.

“In the final analysis, the conspiracy was essentially masterminded by U.S. intelligence agencies, especially the CIA,” the President said.

Eritrea’s economy contracted sharply in 2008 while inflation surged to double digits, according to the International Monetary Fund, but better rains in 2009 could have boosted growth to about 3.5 percent. Source: (Reuters)

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) met on Tuesday with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita on ways to enhance ties between the two nations, according to reports from its capital Djibouti.

China and Djibouti have strengthened their political trust and conducted mutually beneficial cooperation since they forged diplomatic ties in 1979, said Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The two countries have maintained close coordination on international affairs, Wang said, adding that relationship between the CPC and Djibouti Popular Rally for Progress (RPP) has become an important part of bilateral ties.

China is willing to work together with Djibouti to boost mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and strengthen exchanges between the two parties and two countries, he said.

President Guelleh, who is also RPP chairman, said Djibouti is ready to promote its pragmatic cooperation with China, a major partner of the African nation, so as to benefit the two peoples.

Prime Minister and RPP Vice Chairman Dileita spoke highly of China’s Africa policy and the Djibouti-China relations, and reaffirmed his country’s adherence to the one-China policy.

Wang arrived in Djibouti Tuesday, the last leg of his six-nation Africa tour. He has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Benin, Mali and Senegal. Source: (Xinhua)

Gippsland Limited (ASX:GIP) published its Second Quarter Activities Report for the period October-December 2009, together with details of events up to the date of this report. The report includes a section of the companies activities in Eritrea.

During November 2009, Gippsland completed a reconnaissance drainage geochemical survey from within three Prospecting Licences (‘PLs’) the Company holds in Eritrea (Adobha Project). A total of eleven Thematic Mapper (‘TM’) alteration targets were sampled by collecting 196 drainage samples associated with zones of argillic alteration and favourable host lithologies.

Anomalous results for gold, copper and zinc were recorded from all of the three 100 km² Pls.

• TM target E26 (4114400E/1920400N) located within the northern Afah PL yielded a coherent copper anomaly 2.8 km long with six samples containing anomalous copper values (>65 ppm), with the highest being 193 ppm. The copper anomaly is closely associated with an intense zone of argillic alteration measuring 6.4 x 1.4 km. Anomalous, but non-coincident gold and copper values were also recorded form the target area. Rock types within the anomaly include felsic volcanics, quartz-chlorite-sericite schist and chloritic lapilli tuff, all of which are known to be frequently associated with volcanogenic massive suphide (‘VMS’) deposits.

• A low order but coincident gold, copper and zinc anomaly was identified at the E21 target (404800E/1905000N) within the central Merba West PL. The close association of this anomaly with the TM alteration target, gavourable geology and low sample density make this priority for further sampling.

• TM target E14 (403700E/1888100N) located within the Rebae Tahat North PL yielded the highest gold values with two samples containing 1.1 and 3.7 g/t. These two samples located 1 km apart drain from a strong zone of argillic .alteration measuring 1.5 x 0.4 km. Two rock-chip samples from the same area returned 0.287 and 0.210 g/t Au. The presence of widespread quartz-chlorite-sericite-schist containing pyrite makes this anomaly of particular interest.

Gippsland Directors are greatly encouraged by the results of this first pass widely spaces sampling programme which will now be followed up by infill drainage sampling to determine the source of the anomalours gold, copper, and zinc values. This fieldwork will also involve a rock chip sampling programme and geological mapping.

The three PLs cover 300 km² of ground that is prospective for both VMS mineralisation and structurally controlled gold mineralisation. The PLs were selected following an interpretation of TM satellite data of a large part of northern Eritrea. During this study, the Bisha and Zara/Koka mineral deposit areas were used as type examples.

The Bisha gold-base metal deposit located 174 km to the south that contains 1.44 Moz Au, 0.39 Mt Cu and 0.499 Mt Zn was selected as it represents a VMS deposit of the type that can be expected to occur in the area of interest. The 0.94 Moz Zara/Koka gold project located 65 km to the south was selected as it represents a structurally controlled gold deposit located in the southern part of the area of interest.

On receipt of the above results, the Directors unanimously agreed to make application for a further three 100 km² Prospecting Licences in the Adobha region. If successful, the additional licences will double the Company’s holdings in Eritrea.

Hizbawi Mekete Norway

Statement by Hizbawi Mekete Norway

On 24, January 2010, Eritreans residing in Norway gathered on Plaza Hotel in Oslo to discuss the unjust sanction imposed on Eritrea by UNSC under resolution 1907 (2009).

Delegates from Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Bergen were among the more than 300 participants who deliberated the resolution.

Chairman of Hizbawi mekete Oslo Mr. Yemane Haile gave a brief description about the content of the meeting and later on invited the distinguished and intellect Professor Gideon Abay Asmerom to elaborate the subject matter of the sanction cases.

Professor Gideon Abay Asmerom, elaborated the meaning and intentions of the sanction and urged participants to be vigilant for the evil actions of the perpetrators.

Finally, the audience exposed the misdeeds of USA against Eritrea and determined to take actions by declaring its manifestation on defiance to the UNSC resolutions and standing firmly to support the people and government of Eritrea.

The resolutions passed by the participants read as follows.

1. We condemn, on strong terms, the decision 1907 (2003) issued on behalf of UNSC, sanctioning Eritrea.
2. We request UNSC to annualizing and lift up this irresponsible, unjust decision.
3. To rein peace and security in Horn of Africa UNSC shall first and utmost see to that of the decision of EEBC shall be exercised on ground immediately and bear its responsibility on its implementation. We strongly demand to evacuate the Ethiopian army, at once, from the occupied Eritrean territories.
4. Our country Eritrea has disguisedly been under threat to undermine its developmental programs and continually is blackmailed. To overcome and win this treat we are determined to stand on the side to the people and government of Eritrea. To date, as always, we all patriotic Eritreans are determined to fulfill our responsibilities to stand on parry.

We remember our martyrs!

Victory to the masses

Hizbawi Mekete Norway

According to a new World Bank Group survey the capacity of countries to efficiently move goods and connect manufacturers and consumers with international markets is improving around the world, but much more progress is needed to spur faster economic growth and help firms benefit from trade recovery.

Germany is the top performer among the 155 economies ranked in the Logistics Performance Indicators (LPI), which are included in the report Connecting to Compete 2010: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy. Eritrea is ranked 154 followed by Somalia ranked 155 (Table A). The study is based on the most comprehensive world survey of international freight forwarders and express carriers.

According to the LPI, high income economies dominate the top logistics rankings, with most of them occupying important places in global and regional supply chains. By contrast, the ten lowest performing countries are almost all from the low and lower income groups.

Although the study shows a substantial “logistics gap” between rich countries and most developing countries, it finds positive trends in some areas essential to logistics performance and trade. Some of them include the modernization of customs, use of information technology, and development of private logistics services.

The report, headed by World Bank Group economists Jean Francois Arvis and Monica Alina Mustra, notes that among developing economies logistics performance transcends the level of per capita income: Many countries perform better than what their income level would suggest. The ten most significant over-performers include China (27), India (47), Uganda (66), Vietnam (53), Thailand (35), the Philippines (44), and South Africa (28).

Likewise, the countries with significant improvement in performance between the two surveys (the 2007 and 2010 LPI) are often those which implemented comprehensive logistics and trade facilitation reforms earlier, such as Colombia, Brazil, and Tunisia.

In terms of how developing countries are doing per region, South Africa (28) is the top performer from Africa; China (27) from East Asia; Poland (30) from Central and Eastern Europe; Brazil (41) from Latin America; Lebanon (33) from the Middle East; and India (47) from South Asia.

According to the study, logistics performance is heavily influenced by the quality of public sector institutions and the effective coordination of border clearance processes among all border management agencies. In this area, customs performs better than many other agencies, pointing to the need for border management reforms. In low performing countries, on average, half of the containers are physically inspected and one container out of seven at least twice.

Other areas for improvement include better transport policies, increasing competition in trade-related services such as trucking, freight forwarding and railways; and better trade-related infrastructure. For many low-income countries the most binding constraints are often in logistics services and international transit systems. Given they perform better on many other indicators, improving trade infrastructure is often reported to be a priority for middle-income countries.

The World Bank Group has a number of projects designed to improve trade logistics in developing countries. The US$250 million East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project improved the corridor infrastructure and upgraded the main border crossing between Uganda and Kenya at Malaba, reducing border crossing times from three days to three hours. In Tunisia, a US$250 million operation is improving competitiveness by reducing trade costs and streamlining border clearance procedures. And in Afghanistan, the Bank is providing funding for a US$31.2 million project to modernize and computerize four major border crossings, increasing customs revenues from US$50 million when the project started in 2004 to over US$399 million in 2008.

In addition, the Bank is working with IBM, Microsoft and the Global Express Association as part of a public-private partnership on “Aid for Trade Facilitation.” The objective is to develop pilot projects in developing countries that apply innovative IT solutions to streamline border procedures.

Global Trade Logistics Ranking (Table A)

Sunridge Gold Corp

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Jan. 25, 2010) – Sunridge Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SGC) is pleased to announce that an initial 2,000 meter phase one drill program has commenced at Daero Paulos, a large new copper prospect on the Asmara Project, Eritrea. The Daero Paulos target is part of the exploration funding agreement with Antofagasta Minerals S.A. which was completed on October 2, 2009.

Daero Paulos is a large area of intense alteration measuring approximately 500 meters wide and 2.5 kilometers long, that has recently been subject to detailed geological mapping by Antofagasta and Sunridge geologists.

The target has not been previously drilled and is located about 10 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Asmara with good access by asphalt and dirt roads. It is the first target to be drilled under the Sunridge/Antofagasta joint exploration agreement in which Sunridge is the operator.

Detailed mapping has shown Daero Paulos to be a broad area of strong sericite and kaolinite alteration associated with intense quartz stockwork veining. The prospect has been further defined by stream and soil geochemistry surveys which show elevated copper values coincident with parts of the mapped areas of alteration.

An initial six diamond drill holes with average depths of approximately 300 meters for a total of 2,000 meters is planned for Daero Paulus. It is anticipated that this program would be significantly expanded if some of these holes intersect significant copper mineralization.

ABOUT SUNRIDGE:

Sunridge is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery and development of base and precious metal projects on the Asmara Project in Eritrea and exploration properties in Madagascar.

Sunridge has approximately 76 million shares outstanding and approximately $7 million in cash. Sunridge trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SGC. For additional information on the Company and its projects please view the slide show on our website at www.sunridgegold.com or call Don Halliday or Greg Davis at the numbers listed below.

SUNRIDGE GOLD CORP.

Michael Hopley, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cen-Sad

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, Osman Mohammed Saleh, arrived in Tripoli on Sunday to take part in the consultative meeting of (CEN-SAD ) Executive Council on 25-26 January.

According to the Libyan news agency JANA the minister was received at Tripoli International Airport by delegate of General Protocol and Ambassador of Eritrea to Libya.

The Community of Sahel-Saharan States was established on 4th February 1998 in Tripoli, Libya. CEN-SAD became a Regional Economic Community during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Lomé (Republic of Togo) on 4-12 July 2000.

The regional body was formed to create an economic union of Sahel-Saharan States representing socio-economic interests of its members in agriculture, industry, energy, social culture and health.

It’s not clear whether all member states are attending the ongoing summit in Tripoli. Tensions arose between Djibouti and Libya after the the latter voted against imposing sanctions on Eritrea in December 2009.

As a result, Djibouti threatened to suspend its membership of CEN-SAD, whose Secretary General is the Libyan diplomat Mohammed Al-Madani El Azahri, and to boycott the Arab League Summit scheduled for March 27 in Libya.

Cen-Sad