AGE – Press Release 

March 2006

On Sunday, March 19, the Action Group for Eritrea (AGE) held its Annual General Meeting at Thorpe Close in London, UK. AGE was officially launched a year ago with the aim of working towards the development of Eritrea in which its people can live in peace. At the present time, the main efforts of AGE are focussed on campaigning for the complete and unconditional implementation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) decision.

To this end, to date, AGE has conducted various campaigns including two major demonstrations in the UK as well as actively participating in the historic Europe-wide demonstration in the city of Strasbourg, France that culminated outside the European Parliament.

In addition, since its inception and official launch, AGE has initiated three major letter-writing campaigns to Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), government departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DfID).

As well as that, AGE has also been working hard in trying to increase the British public’s awareness of the border issue between Eritrea and Ethiopia. As part of this effort, the group has produced information leaflets and a comprehensive dossier to be used for publicity purposes. AGE also conducts a media watch campaign through which it tries to challenge inaccurate reporting of Eritrea in the British media.

In line with the constitutional requirement, the AGM was called two weeks ago. The meeting was opened with a brief remark by Miss Tsebaot Samuel, Secretary of AGE. Following that, AGE chairman Mr Simon Marcos presented the annual report. As well as reporting on the major activities of AGE in the past year, he outlined future plans for the coming year. Mr Simon Marcos concluded by pointing to some major achievements that AGE had realised in the past year.

“Although very difficult to measure” he said, “AGE has managed to notch up a few feats worth mentioning. Generally speaking, we have been able to remind the UK government and our parliamentary representatives of their legal and moral responsibility in ensuring the implementation of the EEBC decision. What’s more, we have raised the British public’s awareness, established some level of direct communication channel with our MPS and some government officials and created a forum for our people from which to voice their concerns. Most importantly however, we have been able to mobilise our people around a single cause that’s important to us all: the campaign for peace and justice for our country.”

Following the annual report, a plenary session was conducted in which AGE members asked questions and put forward ideas towards future plans. Finally, an election was carried out to replace the outgoing seven-member Executive Committee.

To Read the Annual Report click here.