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The city of Frankfurt and all the major German political parties this year gave an unprecedented attention to the Eritrean opposition by attending and addressing the Eritrea Festival held in the European financial capital of Frankfurt between 31 July and 2 August 2015.

The major event of the Eritrea Festival, annually organized by the Eritrean Democratic Association (EDA) in close cooperation with the branches in Europe of the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), took place in the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday, 1 August 2015 under the moderation of Ms Adiam Teferi and Mr. Ghirmai Zemichael speaking in Tigrinia and Arabic.

The Festival Panel that lasted for nine hours and attended by a large number of people including a significant number of youth, was launched by a welcoming address of Mr. Tesfamariam Kibreab, the EDA chairman, who spoke in German and Tigrinia to explain the objectives and significance of the annual politico-cultural even attended by hundreds of –Eritreans of different political orientation coming from many countries.

The history-making occurrence was the presence at the festival for the first time by the Major of Frankfurt, Mr. Peter Feldmann, a member of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD). In his speech, the mayor recounted the welcoming spirit of Frankfurt and its multicultural people, majority of whom consisted of migrants of 180 ethnic origins. He noted that the city is also home to many Eritreans and urged them to accept Frankfurt as the permanent home of their children and grand children and take part in its every-day life, including its politics.

Delegates of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU); the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the German Green Party also addressed the festival expressing support to the Eritrean struggle for democratic change. In particular, Dr. Klaus Dieter Grothe of the Green Party, expressed strong support to the cause of justice-seeking Eritreans and apologized for a mistaken support the Greens gave to the regime in Asmara for quite a long time. He said no country can develop without democracy and human rights, all of which are absent in today’s Eritrea. He urged Eritreans in diaspora to unify and prepare for a smooth transition from dictatorship to democracy.

Also invited to the podium for their moving reflections on the past and present situations in Eritrea were two former journalists, Mr. Bo Bouvelstam and Ms Christina Bjork from Sweden who spoke on their involvement with Eritrean liberation fights since 1969. In introducing the two old friends of the Eritrean struggle, Mr. Gherezgeher Tewelde of Canada said the two friends were among other Swedish nationals who established the Eritrea Gruppen in the early 1970s and made significant medical and other social contributions to the Eritrean people. These historic friends of our people hoped that the current struggle for democracy will triumph as soon as possible.

EPDP Chairman Menghesteab Asmerom presented his keynote speech in Tigrinia and Mr. Hamid Drar helped to convey the message to the audience in Arabic. Mr. Menghesteab Asmerom warmly welcomed all invited guests and festival participants and explained the situation of Eritreans in 2015, the status of the struggling forces and the core objectives that require immediate attention for democratic change in Eritrea. He also read 12 political resolutions of the second party congress that was held in parts in Ethiopia and Germany.

Presentation of statements by German political parties the two historic friends and the EPDP chairman was followed solidarity messages from 12 Eritrean political and civil society organizations. These included chairpersons and leadership representatives of two wings of the Eritrean National Salvation Front (ENSF and ENSF-Hidri); the Eritrean People’s Unity Front (Sagem); the Eritrean Nahda Party (ENP); the Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP); the Eritrean Forum for National Dialogue (EFND - Medrek); the Eritrean Unity for National Salvation (EUNS); Eritrean Initiative for Eritrean Women in Germany, Network of Eritrean Women, and Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (EYSC). Also speaking on the significance of the Geneva demonstration of 26 June was Dr. Daniel Rezene of Geneva who emphasized the need of new initiatives to seize the momentum created by the mass manifestation in support of the decisions by the UN Human Rights Council.

After a short break, a lively festival panel discussion was started under the able moderation of Mr. Haile Woldu of UK and Ms Feven Ghideon of Germany. All the 12 speakers were invited as team to the front stage. They were Mr. Menghesteab Asmerom of EPDP; Dr. Habte Tesfamariam (ENSF); Mr. Bahta Hailemariam (Sagem), Mr. Fessehazion Ghebre (ENSF-Hidri);

Mr. Abdulaziz Anwar (Nahda); Mr. Menghesteab Kidane (EDP); Ms Amal Ali Mohammed Saleh of Medrek; Dr. Almaz Zerai of women’s network; Ms Alganesh Ghebre of women’s initiative; Dr. Harnet Bokrezion of EYSC and Mr. Dirar Abraha of EUNS.

The panelists exchanged with the audience their understanding of unity of action in the opposition camp, the various shortcomings of all forces opposed to the dictatorship in Eritrea and the expectations of the general public from the younger generation which is suffering of the consequences of state failure in Eritrea.

The audience was engaged not only in asking questions but also in providing answers to the burning national issues of the current stage as well as the challenges ahead in post-dictatorship Eritrea.

The political discussions were followed by an all-night folkloric music and dancing staged by young singers and musicians from different parts of Europe.

Details on the speeches as well as the solidarity messages will be posted soon in www.harnnet.org.