Bambini in guerra

Lontano dall'essere risolto, il dramma dei bambini soldato è una realtà ancora grave e radicata: oggi decine di migliaia di baby-mercenari sono impiegati nei gruppi armati di 24 Stati e territori. E le bambine sono le più penalizzate. A ricordarlo è il rapporto 2008 della Coalizione Stop all'uso dei bambini soldato, che all'Italia chiede di cancellare la dichiarazione di riserva sull'arruolamento volontario nell'esercito a 17 anni.

Strategie e norme ancora inadeguate
Non è possibile fornire il numero esatto dei bambini soldato, ma le cifre diffuse un anno fa alla conferenza intergovernativa di Parigi ('Free children from war') parlano di almeno 250.000, il 40 per cento dei quali costituito da bambine. Il dato è un aggiornamento della stima dei 300.000 bambini soldato emersa dieci anni prima; la riduzione è stata determinata dal fatto che circa 50.000 baby soldati hanno preso parte ai programmi di disarmo, smobilitazione e riabilitazione (Ddr). Tuttavia, i numeri sono in costante variazione ed è impossibile determinare l'esatto numero dei piccoli coinvolti nei conflitti. "L'impegno della comunità internazionale nel porre fine a questo dramma non può essere messo in dubbio", ha commentato Fosca Nomis, portavoce della Coalizione italiana, "tuttavia questo sforzo non ha prodotto i risultati attesi: leggi, politiche e prassi devono tradursi in cambiamenti concreti, affinché non accada mai più che dei minori siano coinvolti in guerre e conflitti armati". Con oltre 400 pagine su leggi, politiche e prassi in materia di reclutamento militare in 190 Paesi del mondo, il rapporto documenta la persistenza dell'impiego in ostilità dei bambini soldato da parte di eserciti governativi e, soprattutto, di gruppi armati irregolari. Negli ultimi quattro anni non sono mancati progressi e miglioramenti di questa situazione. Per esempio, il numero di guerre che hanno visto l'impiego di bambini soldato è passato da 27 nel 2004 a 17 alla fine del 2007. Inoltre, decine di migliaia di bambini sono stati rilasciati da eserciti e gruppi armati mano mano che i conflitti in corso finivano. Anche il dato relativo ai governi è solo lievemente migliorato: sono nove i Paesi che nel corso di guerre e ostilità hanno impiegato nei propri eserciti dei minori, a fronte dei dieci documentati dall'edizione 2004 del rapporto globale. "I pochi progressi registrati sono da collegare in gran parte alla fine dei conflitti", ha spiegato la portavoce della Coalizione che raggruppa le associazioni Alisei, Amnesty Italia, Cocis, Coopi, Focsiv, Intersos, Save the Children Italia, Telefono Azzurro, Terre des Hommes Italia e Unicef Italia. "Laddove invece le guerre scoppiano o riacquistano intensità", ha aggiunto, "rileviamo che l'impiego di bambini soldato continua. E' evidente che le attuali strategie per prevenire o porre fine al loro reclutamento non hanno avuto l'impatto previsto e, se vogliamo ottenere risultati significativi, bisogna che la questione diventi di competenza non solo di chi si occupa di tutela dei diritti dei minori ma anche di coloro che si occupano di prevenzione, risoluzione dei conflitti e peace-building".

Le responsabilità dei governi
La Birmania si conferma il Paese che da più tempo e su più ampia scala impiega bambini soldato. Le sue truppe governative, coinvolte in operazioni anti-sommossa contro i gruppi armati etnici, ancora utilizzano migliaia di bambini, alcuni dei quali di 11
anni. E minori vengono impiegati anche dalle forze governative in Ciad, Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda e Yemen. Minori palestinesi sono stati impiegati come scudi umani dall'esercito di Israele e soldati inglesi di meno di 18 anni sono stati inviati in Iraq fino a metà del 2005. Ma il mancato rispetto da parte dei governi degli obblighi internazionali non finisce qui. In almeno 14 nazioni, minori sono stati reclutati in truppe di supporto all'esercito regolare, o in gruppi di civili per sostenere operazioni anti-sommossa, o ancora in milizie illegali o gruppi armati fiancheggiatori degli eserciti nazionali. Frequente anche il ricorso ai minori come spie o informatori da parte di molti eserciti governativi. Soldati a tutti gli effetti, i minori
associati a gruppi armati vengono trattati come criminali quando entrano nelle prigoni governative.

La detenzione
Il rapporto documenta di bambini anche di 9 anni imprigionati in Burundi, maltrattati o torturati in Israele o Stati Uniti, accusati di diserzione e portati in prigione in Birmania o nella Repubblica democratica del Congo, minori dell'Afghanistan detenuti a Guantanamo. Secondo il rapporto globale, minori sono stati arruolati in gruppi armati non governativi in 24 Paesi e territori fra il 2004 e il 2007. Bambini e bambine anche di 12 anni esposti al rischio di essere abusati o feriti, di morire e subire traumi psicologici permanenti. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Territori Occupati e Pakistan, adolescenti sono stati impiegati in attacchi suicidi. "I gruppi armati rappresentano la sfida maggiore", hanno sottolineato dalla coalizione italiana, "le leggi internazionali hanno avuto un impatto limitato nel dissuadere l'uso di bambini soldato da parte di gruppi armati. Molti di questi non attribuiscono alcun valore agli standard internazionali e il bisogno di accrescere e rafforzare i propri contingenti prevale su ogni altra considerazione.

I programmi di disarmo, un successo limitato
Per prevenire o porre fine all'arruolamento dei bambini soldato sia nelle milizie irregolari che governative, sono stati avviati i programmi di Disarmo, smobilitazione e reinserimento (Ddr). Un'iniziativa cruciale di cui -sottolinea il rapporto globale- bisogna però registrare ancora un limitato impatto. Tali programmi scontano spesso la mancanza di finanziamenti per il supporto di lungo periodo agli ex bambini soldato. Nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, per esempio, a causa dei ritardi nella destinazione dei fondi insieme a una scarsa pianificazione e cattiva gestione dei programmi, 14.000 ex bambini soldato non hanno potuto usufruire e beneficiare di questa opportunità.

Invisibili
Ulteriormente penalizzate risultano le bambine. La loro presenza negli eserciti e gruppi amati è nota sin dagli anni Novanta: sia nel ruolo di combattenti che con compiti di supporto alle truppe, spesso ridotte al rango di schiave, vittime di abusi e violenze sessuali e costrette a fare da mogli ai combattenti. La maggior parte delle bambine soldato non viene identificata e registrata nei programmi ufficiali di smobilitazione a cui si stima riescano ad accedere una percentuale compresa tra l'8 e il 15%. In Liberia, dove i programmi di Ddr si sono conclusi nel 2004, solo 3.000 delle 11.000 bambine soldato associate a forze armate, risultano registrate nei programmi ufficiali di disarmo, smobilitazione e reinserimento. La conseguenza è che in Liberia come in altri Paesi, migliaia di ragazze sono tornate nelle comunità e famiglie di origine in modo informale e autonomamente, con il loro carico di problemi sanitari, psicologici, economici, spesso con dei figli e senza trovare adeguato supporto ma pregiudizi e ostilità.

Arruolamento sotto i 18 anni
Almeno 63 governi, compresi quelli britannico e statunitense, consentono ancora l'arruolamento volontario di minorenni in tempo di pace, nonostante la maggiore età sia fissata a 18 anni in gran parte del mondo. "I progressi raggiunti grazie all'adeguamento agli standard internazionali che proibiscono l'utilizzo di minori nelle ostilità, vengono annullati dal persistente arruolamento di under 18 negli eserciti, in tempo di pace", ha affermato Nomis, "il paradosso è che questi minorenni vengono considerati troppo giovani per votare o assumere alcool, ma non per entrare nell'esercito ed essere sottoposti alla dura disciplina militare".

L'Italia può fare di più
Nel 2002 l'Italia ha ratificato il Protocollo opzionale, che stabilisce il divieto di reclutare minori negli eserciti, e dal 2004, con la legge 226, ha stabilito a 18 anni l'età minima per l'arruolamento volontario. Tuttavia finora non è mai stata ritirata la dichiarazione di riserva fatta in occasione della ratifica del Protocollo opzionale, sull'arruolamento volontario di ragazzi di 17 anni. "Seppure ormai per legge questo non sia più permesso, auspichiamo che quell'affermazione venga comunque smentita". Il 2012 segnerà il decimo anniversario dell'entrata in vigore del trattato internazionale sui bambini soldato. "Abbiamo quattro anni per far sì che l'impegno formale assunto sia dal nostro paese che dalla comunità internazionale di porre fine all'utilizzo dei bambini soldato nei conflitti armati, si traduca in risultati concreti".

 

Attività e identikit della coalizione
Le associazioni della coalizione sono impegnate anche nella realizzazione sul campo di programmi rivolti a bambini e adolescenti che vivono nei contesti di conflitto e post- conflitto. A titolo di esempio, Coopi da diversi anni opera in situazioni di intervento umanitario, sviluppando e implementando azioni a favore dei bambini usciti da forze e gruppi armati e di bambine vittime di violenza sessuale in contesti di guerra. Dopo una lunga esperienza in Sierra Leone, dal 2003, la ong sta lavorando nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, in particolare nell'Est del Paese, gestendo, attraverso partner locali, centri e programmi in cui è promosso un percorso socio-educativo e di re-integrazione comunitario e familiare. Intersos porta sostegno alle popolazioni che devono fronteggiare situazioni di emergenza, in cui frequentemente sono coinvolti bambini soldato. Nell'ambito dei programmi di "Child and Youth protection" sia in campi rifugiati che fuori, in particolare nel Darfur occidentale, Ciad e Somalia, Intersos realizza attività di prevenzione e sostegno a chi è già stato coinvolto in problematiche del genere. Save the Children in Uganda (nei distretti di Gulu, Pader, e Lira) contribuisce alla realizzazione di programmi di prevenzione dell'arruolamento precoce e di riabilitazione e reinserimento sociale di ex bambini soldato, mentre nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo orientale (nord e sud di Kivu) realizza un programma di apprendimento rapido rivolto ai bambini più grandi e alle ragazze madri che hanno dovuto rinunciare all'istruzione a causa del conflitto. Terre des hommes realizza progetti di protezione dei bambini di strada e in conflitto con la legge, contrasto del traffico di esseri umani
e dell'abbandono scolastico. In particolare, a Kinshasa (Repubblica Democratica del Congo) tramite il progetto Scuola multicarte garantisce istruzione gratuita per bambini di strada, tra i quali ex bambini soldato. L'Unicef interviene con programmi di protezione contro abusi e violenze, prevenendo l'arruolamento forzato di minori e operando per la smobilitazione dei bambini soldato, in particolare in Burundi, Afghanistan, Costa d'Avorio, Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone e Angola.

Eritrea, la colonia tradita

"Siamo venuti qui per primi e siamo considerati come se fossimo gli ultimi arrivati". E'un coro unanime, sommesso, quello che si leva dal bar Asmara, dal caffè Eritrea, dal take-away Dallaq. Sono pochi, ma frequentati assiduamente, i locali eritrei di Bologna. Già verso le 18 è possibile incontrare gruppi di giovani che bevono birra chiara e giocano a scala quaranta. Sono arrivati da qualche anno, e aumentano a ritmo vertiginoso, scappati da una patria martoriata dalla guerra con l'Etiopia ufficialmente finita nel 2000. "Il trattato di Algeri non ha fatto altro che accertare uno stato di fatto, non ha posto soluzioni", spiega Amaniel, sindacalista della Cgil. Il Paese infatti permane in stato d'allerta: i soldati non hanno abbandonato le trincee, il processo di militarizzazione avviato dal capo di Stato Isaias Afewerki non accenna a fermarsi, gli scontri armati, sulle montagne del Badme, continuano a distruggere vite umane. "Io sono fuggito dall'esercito" – confessa T., giovane facchino che vive a Bologna da 3 anni – "E'dal 2000 che non combattiamo, ma il governo non vuole farci tornare a casa". T. ha raggiunto l'Italia dopo aver attraversato il deserto sudanese e quello libico, pagando migliaia di euro per ottenere i permessi necessari e per affittare, insieme ai compagni, i mezzi di trasporto. Un viaggio lungo, in cui la stessa sopravvivenza è stata messa in discussione. "Il tratto peggiore è stato quello in Libia. Lì non vedono di buon occhio chi vuol emigrare in Europa. Sono capaci di uccidere". Poi il passaggio del canale di Sicilia, su un barcone d'emergenza. L'avvistamento da parte della guardia costiera, lo sbarco a Lampedusa. Storie già note, storie non solo eritree. La recente immigrazione dall'ex-colonia fascista ha le sue radici nella guerra con l'Etiopia, nelle carestie, in un'economia che non accenna a decollare. Chi viene dall'Eritrea gode di un infelice privilegio: il permesso di soggiorno umanitario, valido per un anno. "In realtà è l'unica cosa che ci viene concessa. Una casa, un pre-contratto, un corso di italiano, tutte cose che dobbiamo ottenere senza contare su alcun aiuto", protesta P., che lavora come facchino da 11 anni. A dispetto di chi arrivava in Italia 25 anni fa, con una promessa di lavoro in tasca, i recenti immigrati giungono senza un punto di riferimento. Esistono associazioni, come quella delle Donne eritree, o iniziative importanti, come impartire lezioni di lingua madre a chi è nato in Italia, ma manca ad esempio un luogo dove la comunità possa riunirsi periodicamente. "Le nostre attività hanno sedi itineranti, da via Vezza alle Caserme Rosse", conferma Amaniel, che aggiunge: "Vorremmo un luogo dove poter stabilmente collocare le nostre attività culturali e sportive". Ma se la comunità eritrea appare messa in secondo piano rispetto ad altri gruppi di immigrati, la colpa non è solo delle amministrazioni. Gli eritrei hanno un carattere schivo, discreto, poco incline alla protesta violenta. "Non sappiamo chiedere e siamo troppo onesti, spiega il gestore del bar Asmara, nel quartiere Navile. Si tratta di una comunità compatta, solida, pronta all'aiuto reciproco. Se muore uno di loro, ad esempio, è tutta la comunità a farsi carico del trasporto della salma nella patria natia. "Attualmente stiamo raccogliendo i fondi per finanziare la carriera sportiva di Semay, un giovane maratoneta che però è troppo povero per sfondare", conferma Gaber Kidane, proprietario del colorato Ristorante Africano, fino a tre mesi fa l'unico della città. La compattezza degli eritrei ha però un lato oscuro: la chiusura, l'isolamento dalle altre comunità o dagli stessi bolognesi. L'eritreo ha una cultura più simile a quella italiana. Non si accontenta di sgobbare tutto il giorno per poche lire. Non accetta di vivere con altre 10 persone in un appartamento di 60 metri quadri. Ma non lo grida. E fa fatica anche a lamentarsi. Eppure, la comunità aumenta. Nel 2007 la Caritas ha aiutato 138 eritrei su 890 immigrati complessivi, nell'attesa di trovare un lavoro, che è quasi sempre quello di facchino o di domestico. A Bologna superano il migliaio. Da tre anni hanno la loro chiesa di rito cristiano-copto. Il peso specifico della popolazione eritrea cresce, forte di un passato importante e di una radicata cultura della lealtà. "Ad Asmara puoi camminare senza che nessuno ti tocchi, anche se sei una donna. La nostra è una storia antica che rispetta le diversità religiose e razziali. Siamo gente onesta", conclude Amaniel. Forse troppo

Ethiopia says ready to secure route to Djibouti port

ADDIS ABABA, May 15 (Reuters) - Ethiopia is prepared to secure its vital trade corridor with the Red Sea port of Djibouti in the event of any conflict between Djibouti and Eritrea, its Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Thursday.

Ethiopia relies on Djibouti for its sea-bound imports and exports after Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia 17 years ago left Ethiopia a landlocked country.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said earlier this month Eritrean soldiers had entered his nation, digging trenches and building defences.

"The recent Eritrea-Djibouti row was a threat to the peace and security of the whole Horn of Africa," Meles said in an address to the country's business community.

"They (Eritreans) do act silly sometimes, but I don't think they would go totally insane."

Meles said he will strive to secure the route between Ethiopia and Djibouti's port, but did not elaborate on exactly how this would be achieved.

"In the face of the unpredictable nature of the Eritrean regime ... Ethiopia will make sure the corridor is safe and sound," he said.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has denied sending troops into neighbouring Djibouti, saying Asmara had no desire for another crisis in the Horn of Africa.

"It is a fabrication, we know, there is no basis for that ..there has never been any problem," the Eritrean leader said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.

Eritrea and Ethiopia are long-time foes and were involved in a border war in 1998-2000. (Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse; Editing by Matthew Jones) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)

Key quotes from Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki

ASMARA, May 13 (Reuters) - Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki gave a rare interview to Reuters on Tuesday to discuss politics and economics in the Horn of Africa and his country.

Here are some of his quotes:

ON U.N. FEARS OF NEW ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BORDER WAR

"That's a gimmick meant to cover up for the failure of the U.N Security Council to do anything for the last six years. Now they are playing the scare game."

NORMALISATION WITH ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT?

"It's too late. It could have been mended a long time ago without going and resorting to this unnecessary war ... If you can be an angel or someone like Christ, maybe."

U.N. AND U.S. ROLE IN SOMALIA

"It's part of a plan meant to weaken the Somali resistance ... I don't see any useful purpose."

"You would categorise anything terrorist or linked with terrorism when you have failed to address the issues seriously. You can go back to the early 90s and see how the United States played the Somali issue. Now they want to find some excuse ... Especially since 9/11, terrorism has become a pretext for any wrongdoing anywhere."

"The resistance will continue until the Somalis are given the opportunity to find a solution for themselves. Somalis will prevail at the end of the day."

U.S. ACCUSATIONS ERITREA SPONSORS TERRORISM

"You need to come with evidence, with facts ... We are fed up of this thing, and we are not worried at all because it's become very transparent and obvious to everyone that these people are doing wrong things and finding excuses and trying to find scapegoats for their wrongdoing."

"If there was a way to provide the Somali resistance with anything, we could have done that without any hesitation if that was possible."

ERITREA'S SELF-RELIANCE POLICIES

"We would like integration more than anybody else ... Self-reliance is interpreted as an isolationist trend, which it is not at all ... Self-reliance is preparing yourself for partnership, equal partnership."

DJIBOUTI ACCUSATION OF TROOP INCURSION

"We decline the invitation to go into another crisis."

MINING IN ERITREA

"The gold reserves in this country are not comparable to anywhere in the region -- Sudan, Ethiopia, anywhere else. The Italians (colonisers) discovered this. We're not re-inventing anything new. The reserves and potential are huge.

"This is the property of the people of this country ... If it goes otherwise, then it becomes a curse."

ERITREA'S ECONOMY

"We need to spend, we need to be over-stretched, we need to have a lot of stress so that we can overcome problems for the future."

"We are not the perfect economy."

"I can assure you that in spite of the low GDP growth in this country, the quality of life has been improving."

ELECTIONS

"It has to come ... I have nothing to benefit by postponing a political process. I wouldn't like an election a la Kenya-style or the Zimbabwean style, or the Palestinian style, or the Afghani style."

"It's not anything personal. I will stay as long as it takes. That's not my choice, that's not my preference. It has to be decided based on the situation on the ground ... I will not be scared by someone coming telling me 'well you have to go, we have to find a change' ... I'm not a fool."

HUMAN RIGHTS

"It's very small numbers (arrested) and we are not shy to say these are individuals who've done harm to the national security of this country. We are not questioning the fact that we have done this and we will continue to do it. This has nothing to do with human rights."

"No one has the right to point a finger at us."

FLIGHT OF YOUNG ERITREANS

"Hundreds of young have been misled that there is heaven outside ... It's an orchestrated attempt to deplete this nation of its young ... financed by the CIA."

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ )

Eritrean leader blames CIA plot for youth exodus

ASMARA, May 13 (Reuters) - Eritrea accused the CIA and other Western agencies on Tuesday of luring young people away from the Red Sea state in a plot to weaken a nation seen as a threat to U.S. interests in the region.

"It's an orchestrated, organised operation financed by the CIA," President Isaias Afwerki told Reuters.

Up to 25,000 Eritreans leave illegally each year, most into neighbouring Sudan and Ethiopia on their way to Europe or the Middle East, diplomats and analysts say. Some Eritreans are granted political asylum in Western countries.

"Hundreds of young have been misled that there is heaven outside ... It's an orchestrated attempt to deplete this nation of its young," Isaias added.

"We have evidence. We know what's going on in terms of the media campaign, psychological warfare, tempting people, trying to facilitate them to cross the border."

The 62-year-old former guerrilla leader, who took power in 1991, said Britain's intelligence service and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) were also behind the strategy.

"UNHCR is getting involved, CIA station officers in the region, some embassies are involved. They want young Eritreans to flee this country."

Critics of Isaias' government say young Eritreans are fleeing political repression and mandatory national service that lasts a minimum of 18 months but can go on years longer. Nearly one in 21 of Eritrea's 4.5 million people is in the military, according to the United Nations.

Asmara says that is necessary due to the threat from neighbouring and U.S.-backed Ethiopia, with which it fought a 1998-2000 war. Eritrea restricts exit visas and passports of military-eligible men and women under 50 and 47 respectively.

Instead of finding a better life, young Eritreans abroad were falling into prostitution, "concentration camps" for refugees, and other ills, Isaias said.

The United States has threatened to put Eritrea on its list of sponsors of terrorism, accusing it of sending arms to Somali insurgents. Washington is also upset at Eritrea's measures against U.N. peacekeepers at the Ethiopian border.

"A JOKE"

Isaias mocked rights groups who accuse him of imprisoning thousands of dissidents, muzzling independent media and using security forces to keep a tight grip on the people.

"It's become a sort of joke ... they have no qualifications. They have no right to be human rights groups," he said. "No one has the right to point a finger at us."

Eritrea's jails housed only those who threatened security, he said. "It's very small numbers, and we are not shy to say these are individuals who've done harm to the national security of this country."

"We are not questioning the fact that we have done this and we will continue to do it. This has nothing to do with human rights."

Isaias said Eritrea was still committed in the future to holding an election, though hostilities with Ethiopia had put this on hold.

"It has to come ... I have nothing to benefit by postponing a political process," he said, arguing that Eritrea would design its own democracy.

"I wouldn't like an election a la Kenya-style or the Zimbabwean style, or the Palestinian style, or the Afghani style. Not at all."

But Isaias emphasised that Eritrea would not be pressured on this from outside.

"I will stay as long as it takes," he said.

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ )

Eritrea sees mining start by end of 2009

ASMARA, May 13 (Reuters) - President Isaias Afwerki forecast on Tuesday that Eritrea's first gold mine would begin producing by the end of 2009, starting a metals industry with "huge" reserves and potential to drive development.

But Isaias said his government would take time with its foreign partners to develop mining both to maximise social benefits for Eritreans and avoid the so-called "resource curse" that has bedevilled other African nations.

Experts predict a boom for Eritrea -- believed to be rich in gold and industrial metals -- and half a dozen foreign firms explore in the Horn of Africa nation of 4.5 million people.

"The gold reserves in this country are not comparable to anywhere in the region -- Sudan, Ethiopia, anywhere else," Isaias told Reuters in a rare interview with Western media.

"The reserves and potential are there. It's huge."

Isaias said the most advanced project, by Canada's Nevsun Resources Ltd , would likely start first.

Nevsun has said it expects its Bisha project to produce around 1 million ounces of gold, 750 million pounds of copper, and 1.1 billion pounds of zinc over a 10-year life.

"It should be the first one. Realistically, I would expect mid-2009 or by the end of 2009," Isaias said.

Others are likely to follow, he said.

"The blocks are many. The ventures are diverse," he said, adding that full mining development "will take some time."

Isaias, a 62-year-old former Marxist guerrilla leader who took power in 1991, said he was determined to avoid falling into the trap of other African nations -- perhaps most notably Congo -- whose resources have fuelled corruption and conflict.

"We shouldn't depend on natural resources. That may turn out to be a curse. We may be misled to believe that everything will be solved because we have huge mineral reserves.

"We need to be careful on how we use this resource for a sustainable course and development in this country. That resource is the property of the people."

MACROECONOMIC NEEDS

Mining should fuel economic growth and aid industrialisation in one of the world's poorest countries, Isaias said.

"Our profit-sharing policy with our partners is fair - we take our share, and they take their share. And we use our share in an equitable manner.

"It is not government intervention. This has nothing to do with economic philosophies."

Eritrea's 1998-2000 border war scared off big miners, who were replaced by a handful of smaller companies from Canada, Australia and China.

But Isaias said the big firms would be welcome back.

"Why not? We are not scared. As long as the venture is a venture for shared risk and shared profit."

Few hard facts are known about Eritrea's economy, which is largely agricultural and depends heavily on remittances. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated around one percent annual growth in recent years.

"If you read publications from outside, you would say the economy of this country has collapsed, but it is sustaining itself," Isaias said.

The Eritrean leader said growth figures used by Western economists were a misleading indicator.

"Anyone can come in this marginalised continent and tell you the growth of the economy has been 10 percent. What do you mean when you have 80 percent, 90 percent of your population under the poverty line?"

Better measures are quality of life, middle class growth, and reduction in the gap between rich and poor, he said.

Giving rare figures, however, Isaias said growth of between 6-8 percent before the war with Ethiopia had dropped to between 2-3 percent since.

Eritrea needed to over-stretch itself, incurring some "deficit financing" and "macroeconomic imbalances", to cope with development needs, he said. The IMF said the deficit in 2005 was an estimated 20 percent of GDP.

"We need to have a lot of stress so that we can overcome problems for the future. It's not ideal. We are not the perfect economy."

But the mining, agriculture, fishing and tourism sectors were ripe for development, he said, citing the example of fishing, where Eritrea was exploiting less than 15 percent of the potential catch off its Red Sea coast.

Eritrea denies Djibouti border accusation

ASMARA (Reuters) - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki denied on Tuesday sending troops into neighbouring Djibouti, saying Asmara had no desire for another crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh said earlier this month Eritrean soldiers had entered his nation, digging trenches and building defences. He said the armies were "facing each other" and urged international intervention.

"It's a fabrication, we know. There is no basis for that ... There has never been any problem," Isaias said.

"We decline the invitation to go into another crisis in the region," he added, chuckling during an interview with Reuters in the Red Sea state's capital Asmara.

"And to anyone inviting us to another crisis, we'll say 'no thank you, we are not coming'."

Eritrea's long-running enmity with Ethiopia dominates politics in the Horn of Africa. They fought a 1998-2000 border war and favour different sides in the Somali conflict.

Djibouti and Eritrea clashed over their border in the mid-1990s. The African Union has urged restraint following Djibouti's accusation against Asmara.

Eritrea says UN scaremongering on war risk

ASMARA (Reuters) - U.N. fears that a pullout of peacekeepers on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border may lead to a new war are unfounded scaremongering and a "gimmick" to cover the world body's failings, Eritrea's leader said on Tuesday.

In a rare interview with Western media, President Isaias Afwerki also told Reuters a United Nations effort to broker peace talks for Somalia this week were a U.S.-inspired attempt to undermine a legitimate resistance movement.

Eritrea and Ethiopia's long-running enmity, including a 1998-2000 border war, and the conflict in Somalia, have polarised the Horn of Africa, one of the world's poorest and most conflict-riven regions.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last month the withdrawal of the majority of 1,700 peacekeepers on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border, following a fuel cutoff by Asmara, risked new hostilities on the 1,000-km (620 mile) frontier.

"It is a gimmick and a cover-up for the failure of the (U.N.) Security Council and the Secretary-General to do anything to close this chapter for good," said the 62-year-old former guerrilla fighter, who won power in 1991.

"They are playing the scare game."

Asmara says the world body has long favoured regional power Ethiopia and the latest manifestation of that is its failure to force Addis Ababa to comply with a 2002 border ruling that gave the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea.

The United Nations blames Eritrea for forcing its peacekeepers to leave too early by measures like cutting off fuel supplies and banning helicopter flights.

Isaias said a November 2007 "virtual" demarcation of the border, by the same independent commission that ruled in 2002, buried the issue. "The job is finished. There won't be any reason for any one of us to assume that tension may rise."

Ethiopia had no legal grounds to invade Eritrea, and was anyway tied up with internal divisions, Isaias said.

"How can one possibly assume Ethiopia finding an excuse to go for any use of force? I frankly can't believe that regime has expansionist dreams."

SOMALIA CONFLICT

Speaking at Asmara's colonial-era presidential palace, Isaias also accused the United Nations of trying to divide Somalia's opposition by hosting talks in Djibouti with the Western-backed Somali government.

"I have no idea why they've gone for this. It's part of a plan meant to weaken the Somali resistance by dividing and weakening the Islamic Courts, dividing and weakening the (opposition) alliance, and creating problems here and there.

"No one seems to be interested in what the United Nations, with pressures from Washington, is trying to do ... (It) may not bring in any result at all."

Asmara hosts an umbrella group of exiled Somali opposition leaders, and says insurgents fighting the Ethiopian-backed government inside Somalia are a popular resistance movement unfairly characterised as terrorists by Washington and others.

"It is part of the scare policy, intimidating people, finding an excuse in terrorism to justify any wrongdoing," he added, accusing Washington of trying to put a smokescreen over failed policies in Somalia and the Horn of Africa in general.

The United States and United Nations have accused Eritrea of fuelling the conflict in Somalia by sending weapons to insurgents, and Washington has threatened to put it on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"Trying to associate the resistance of the Somali people with terrorism is a mere fabrication," Isaias said. He scorned the accusations against Eritrea as "lies" and accused Washington of a post-9/11 "addiction" to terrorism claims.

The United States is a major ally of Ethiopia and has used air strikes to try and kill what it says are al Qaeda suspects operating alongside militant Islamists in Somalia.

Isaias said Somalis were justified in turning to Islam as a way to move beyond failed clan-based politics. "It is not some fanatic association ... There's nothing wrong with adopting Islam as a solution, or Christianity for that matter."

Eritrea secures broad acclaim for its rich natural resource and locomotives

Asmara, 6 May 2008 - Italian railway experts said that Eritrea is a major tourism destination in view of the fact that it is endowed with spectacular landscape and rich natural resources, coupled with classic locomotives as well as the prevailing peace and security. The remarks were made by Italian railway experts, Mr. Stefano Petini and Mr. Roberto Vasilichi, who took part in a training course for young Eritrean citizens on locomotive handling. Indicating that he is visiting Eritrea for the 6th time, Mr. Petin stated that in the course of his visits, he witnessed major development stride on the basis of internal resource. He highly appraised the revival of the Eritrean railway system which was out of function for a long time through the dedication of elderly railway experts. Mr. Petini further expressed satisfaction for taking part in efforts to bequeath the skill and know-how of the elderly railway experts to the young generation. The Italian national added that Eritrea is one of the few countries that utilize steam engine locomotives, and as such it won broad acclaim around the world. Similarly, Mr. Roberto Vasilich, who visited the country for the first time said that traveling by locomotive along the spectacular landscape certainly gives one utmost satisfaction. He went on to say that the railway system would play a major role in promoting the development of the tourism sector, and that this resource, coupled with the prevailing peace and security in Eritrea is attracting the attention of the international media. It is to be noted that the Eritrean Railways administration, in collaboration with Italian railway experts, recently offered training to 20 youths in a bid to bequeath the skill and know-how of elderly workers to the young generation.

Djibouti accuses Eritrea of border violation

DJIBOUTI, May 6 (Reuters) - Djibouti has accused Eritrea of violating its border in a worsening dispute over the Horn of Africa neighbours' shared frontier.

Djibouti says Eritrean soldiers entered its territory last month to dig trenches and build other defences. Eritrea has made no official comment.

"The violation of the border is flagrant. The two armies are facing each other. The situation is explosive," Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh told reporters late on Monday.

"We have asked for international arbitration from the Arab League and the African Union."

Eritrean officials were not available for comment.

Djibouti and Eritrea clashed over their border in the mid-1990s. On Saturday, the African Union called on both sides to show restraint and resolve any dispute with dialogue.

It said it was sending a fact-finding mission to the border and would consult officials from both countries.

Asmara fought a 1998-2000 border conflict with Ethiopia that killed some 70,000 people. The Red Sea state also fought a short war with Yemen in the mid-1990s over territory. (Reporting by Omar Hassan Awale; Editing by Jack Kimball) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)

Eritrea calls for disbanding of UN border force

UNITED NATIONS, May 1 (Reuters) - Eritrea, which earlier this year obliged a U.N. peacekeeping force to leave its disputed border with Ethiopia, is now calling for the Security Council to wind up the mission altogether.
The demand, in a letter from the Red Sea state's permanent U.N. representative, came after the council, in a statement issued late on Wednesday, said it would consult Eritrea and Ethiopia on the future of the 1,700-strong force.
The force, known as UNMEE, had patrolled the border since 2000, when a two-year war between the Horn of Africa neighbors ended. It pulled out in February, saying Eritrea had cut off fuel supplies, and most of its troops have returned to their countries of origin.
Eritrea said countrywide fuel shortages had prompted the cutoff, but has made no secret of its disillusion with the United Nations for failing to enforce a border ruling by a boundary commission that favored Asmara.
In its latest statement on the issue, the Security Council again condemned Eritrea for its actions but said it was "ready to assist the parties to overcome the current stalemate, taking into account the interests and concerns of both parties."
"The Security Council will, in the light of consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future U.N. engagement and on the future of UNMEE," it said.
But in a letter to the council, Eritrean Ambassador Araya Desta denounced the statement for failing to mention the ruling of the boundary commission or call on Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from "sovereign Eritrean territories."
"There is no 'stalemate' or impasse to overcome except Ethiopia's legal obligation to withdraw its troops from territories awarded to Eritrea by the ... decision of the EEBC (boundary commission)," Desta said.
With the ending of the commission's work last November, Security Council requirements had been met, "necessitating for the U.N. Security Council to officially terminate the mandate of UNMEE," added the letter, made available on Thursday.
SEVERAL OPTIONS
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki had said last month the continued presence of U.N. peacekeepers in a 15.5-mile (25-km) zone inside Eritrea, was illegal. Diplomats say it is the first time a country has withdrawn cooperation from a U.N. force.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in an April report that if the peacekeepers abandoned the 620-mile (1,000-km) border, a new war could break out, although both countries have said they do not plan to renew hostilities.
Ban offered several options, including the permanent withdrawal of UNMEE, deploying a small observer mission in the border area, establishing liaison offices in Addis Ababa and Asmara or returning to the original full deployment. The last option, however, looks unlikely given Eritrea's stance.
The now-disbanded Hague-based boundary commission had ruled that most of the border territory under dispute, including the flash-point town of Badme, belonged to Eritrea.
Ethiopia has offered to hold talks with Eritrea to discuss the ruling but Asmara says Addis Ababa must first withdraw from Eritrean territory.
U.N. officials say the commission, set up under a peace deal between the two countries, is not a U.N. body and hence the United Nations cannot enforce the ruling.
Nonaligned diplomats say some countries on the Security Council are reluctant to antagonize Ethiopia, whose troops are currently supporting the Somali government against Islamist insurgents in Somalia. (Editing by Jackie Frank)