Perspectives for Sustainable Peace in the Horn of Africa - Vienna, Austria

O because of its proximity to the oil-rich n March 20th 2019, at the Arabian Peninsula. The area has Vienna International Center always been a magnet for international (United Nations building) in powers because of the sea traffic going Vienna, the Universal Peace by, major ports in the area, tremendous Federation co-sponsored a conference nearby riches, weapons trading, on the theme: “Perspectives for crossing points for people and Sustainable Peace and Development in merchandise and the dangers of piracy. the Horn of Africa”, which was The Horn of Africa, with its organized by the permanent mission of geostrategic location, is a source, as Eritrea to the United Nations in He quoted UN Secretary General well as an area of transit and of Vienna. 200 guests attended the event. António Guterres, who said that our destination of mixed migratory flows, The conference was organized on the world is undergoing a stresstest. But and a center of migratory routes foundation of the dramatic change that there are also signs of hope as the towards Europe, the Gulf countries and took place in the Horn of Africa, when declaration signed by Eritrea and the Middle East, and Southern Africa.” the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, on Ethiopia after 20 years of conflict and July 9th 2018, signed a declaration stalemate. This is an example of ending the state of war between the courage that has a positive effect two countries. The summit between throughout the region. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed The first session was moderated by Mr. in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, had Peter Haider, President of UPF marked the first time that the Austria. In his introductory remarks he neighboring heads of state had met in said: “The Horn of Africa enjoys an nearly two decades. This was a starting excellent strategic location south-west point of meetings which created new of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It relationships among Djibouti, Eritrea, refers to four countries — Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti — but, The session featured speeches from Sudan. in its wider political and economic high level diplomats from Austria and context, the term also includes Sudan nations from the Horn of Africa. Dr. In his welcome remarks Dr. Martin and South Sudan. The strategic Werner Fasslabend, the president of Nesirky, Director of UNIS Vienna, importance of this East African region AIES and a former Austrian Defence remembered the audince that in 2019 comes from it being the source of the Minister, described the significance of the United Nations is celebrating its Nile and a gate to the Red Sea and the the political breakthrough in the Horn 40th year in Vienna. Gulf of Aden. Its location on one side of Africa and the perspectives it of some of the world’s major trade sea opened for that region and surrounding lanes and land routes gives it vital regions.

Vienna; Captain Simon Gebre Yohannes Neguse, from the Eritrean Nuclear Security program; Mr. Hassan Eltigani Malic, from Awethu, Forum to promote African Unity in Diversity.

The Austrian entrepreneur Reinhard Trinkl spoke about the project of the Environmental Concepts Exchange Association for the Horn of Africa. Representing the nations from the And Jacques Marion, Secretary Horn of Africa, the Ambassador of H.E. Abdukadir Bakri Hamdan, the General of UPF Europe, concluded the Sudan in Austria, H.E. Mirghani Representative of the Permanent session with a report on UPF activities Abbaker Altayeb Bakhet, the Mission of Eritrea to the UN, the main in Africa and mentioned about the Ambassador of Djibouti in Germany organizer of the event, concluded by third Sunhak Peace Prize given and H.E. Aden Mohamed Dileita, the recalling the struggle of his country to recently by the UPF Founder to two Charge d’Affaires and Minister gain independence and recognition African laureates: Dr Akinwum Councillor of the Permanent Mission from the international community, and Adesina, the president of the African of Somalia to UNIDO, shared their emphasized how the recent peace Development Bank and Ms. Waris perspectives on the opportunities and agreement between Eritrea and Dirie, the Somalian top model and for challenges for the development of their Ethiopia marked a new era for Eritrean UN Ambassador who had started the region. people and for the peoples of the Horn campaign to denounce Female Genital of Africa. Mutilation.

To conclude the event Mrs. Camilla Habsburg read a letter of appreciation, which will be sent to the Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed: “The participants of the conference “Perspectives for Sustainable Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa,” which took place Dr Andreas Melan, the Head of the The second session was moderated by on March 20, 2019, in the Vienna Africa Department at the Austrian Mr. Tageldin Hamad, Vice President International Centre (United Nations), Ministry for European and of UPF International and Director the want to express their gratitude for the International Affairs – a former UPF Office for UN Relations. courage and vision that the political Austrian Ambassador to Ethiopia – Shedding light on their field of activity leaders of the Horn of Africa nations reviewed the situation of relations in the region, several experts took the are showing in order to make a new between Austria and the Horn of stand: Mr. Shaukat Abdulrazag, start toward peace and mutual Africa with an European Union director for Africa at the Technical prosperity. This serves as an example perspective. Cooperation Department of the IAEA; for the whole African continent and for Mr. Abdalla Sharief, the President of the world.”. the UN Correspondents Association in

Horn of Africa Peace Initiative - Universal Peace Federation – Awethu Forum to promote African Unity in Diversity - Women’s Federation for World Peace - United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna - Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy