invitation
You are invited to a conference initiated by the permanent mission of Eritrea to the UN in Vienna in cooperation with permanent missions of the other Horn of Africa countries supported by UPF, UNCAV, AIES and AWETHU on the topic
Wednesday, March 20th 2019, 13:00-17:30 (1:00 pm – 5:30 pm) Vienna International Center (UN), C-Building, Room C1, 2nd floor
Conference languages: English and Arabic
The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea on July 9th 2018 signed a declaration ending the state of war between the two countries. The summit between Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, marked the first time that the neighbouring heads of state met in nearly two decades.
The Horn of Africa enjoys an excellent strategic location south-west of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It refers to four countries — Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti — but, in its wider political and economic context, the term also includes Sudan and South Sudan. The strategic importance of this East African region comes from it being the source of the Nile and a gate to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its location on one side of some of the world’s major trade sea lanes and land routes gives it vital importance. Its importance increases because of its proximity to the oil-rich Arabian Peninsula. The area has always been a magnet for international powers because of the sea traffic going by, major ports in the area, tremendous nearby riches, weapons trading, crossing points for people and merchandise and the dangers of piracy.
The Horn of Africa, with its geostrategic location, is a source, as well as an area of transit and of destination of mixed migratory flows, and a centre of migratory routes towards Europe, the Gulf countries and the Middle East, and Southern Africa. (EU Trust Fund)
Horn of Africa Peace Initiative – Universal Peace Federation – Awethu Forum to promote African Unity in Diversity – United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna – Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy
Further information: H.E. Abdulkadir Hamdan, Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the UN in Vienna, Tel.: +49 160 4150219, E-Mail: hamdan@hornofafrica.de