Speech by Eritrea’s Ambassador to the European Union, H.E. Negassi Kassa,

(on the occasion of the Luxembourg Peace Award conferred to Eritrea and Ethiopia)

Mr. Master of Ceremony,
Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Dominicus Rohde, President of Schengen Peace Foundation, Madame Vicky Hansen, President of the World Peace Forum Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Peace Prize Committee for selecting Eritrea and Ethiopia to be awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize for their effort and initiative to promote Peace and their outstanding peace achievement.

I am honoured and humbled to accept this important Peace Award on behalf of my country, the State od Eritrea, and reiterate my gratitude and appreciation to the Schengen Peace Foundation and World Peace Forum Luxembourg for Awarding my county this prestigious Luxembourg Peace Prize for its Outstanding Peace Achievement with Ethiopia.

I would also like to congratulate my brother Mr. Grum Abay Teshome, Ambassador of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Brussels for accepting this important Peace Award on behalf of his country.

Eritrea values this Award of acknowledgement to the bilaterally achieved exemplary Peace Agreement of the two countries, signed in Asmara, Eritrea, on 9th July 2018 by the Eritrean President, H.E Isaias Afwerki and the Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

The Peace Agreement has paramount importance for the two countries and the HOA region at large for sustainable peace & security, economic growth and regional cooperation.

The Award is also timely because now a new era of peace and friendship has been opened, heralding great hope and aspiration, as well as wide-ranging opportunities, for the peoples of the two countries and the HOA region and beyond.

The people and Government of Eritrea are committed to consolidate and sustain the Peace Agreement and redouble their effort and endeavour to recoup their lost time and opportunities. In this regard, Eritrea calls upon partners and friends of the two countries and the international community in general for their solidarity and support.

Once more, I express my earnest thanks and appreciation to the Schengen Peace Foundation and World Peace Forum Luxembourg for the Award accorded to Eritrea.
I thank you