Successful Path To Progress
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Report published last week reveals that Eritrea is making impressive progress in terms of the 2015 target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The vision of the people and Government of Eritrea has been to reach higher levels in terms of economy, living standards, social services, education and technology, and by so doing establish a nation of justice and stability that ensures equal opportunities and better lives for its citizens. But such a vision is not attained through aspiration only; its implementation is not smooth either. It instead demands dedication and hard work. Upon this realization, the practical citizen that puts the love of its nation and progress of its people upfront has been relentlessly working, putting individualism aside, towards achieving the national objective. And as a result of the efforts of its dedicated citizens, Eritrea has been able to repel an open invasion and other disguised economic and political ploys, as well as implements strategic development endeavors and register radical changes. At such a historical stage, the momentum, progress and capital gathered so far in all sectors, as well as all promising prospects, bear witness to the unwavering spirit and strength of the Eritrean people.
Whether for an individual or a society, there are always two choices: work hard and be self-reliant or be dependent. The first choice entails a difficult journey but ensures a flourishing destination; the latter appears to be easy and convenient but in the end drops you into an endless pit of slavery. Eritreans as a people have taken the first choice. This is because definite victory after a long and bitter struggle has been a principle instilled in their past history; a principle that brought us to victory in our past experience and that today serves as the epicenter of our national values in our endeavors to build a nation of justice and prosperity. The result is the growth being registered all over the country, attest to not only by words but also on the ground by international standards.
If we take a look at world history, the successful peoples are those who set out for a lasting solution while at the same time enduring temporary problems. The people of Eritrea have been on this proven track of progress and have been working hard focusing on strategic development programs that can bring about basic solutions. Any nation is built through its internal capacity; and the internal capacity is nurtured through economic programs that ensure the broad participation of the people, principle of self-reliance as well as productivity. And it is because of this realization that the people of Eritrea have been endeavoring to build a national economy free from any external dependence. And the reward of such national effort, which has been demanding patience and a hefty price, will surely be harvested in abundance in not so a distant future; along the lines of economic independence.