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Date:05 Nov.2009 
 
An open letter to Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso 
 
Subject: the October 9 Conference on Eritrea, 
 Organized by EEPA in Brussels 
 
H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso 
President of the European Commission 
 
Dear Mr. Barroso  
 
Let me have the opportunity to extend my best wishes for the second term of your 
presidency and I also wish you more success to attain the goals of the European 
Commission.   
 
We in the EDA (Eritrean Democratic Alliance) would like, in this letter, to express our 
reservations and anxiety on the forthcoming conference organized by the Foreign 
Policy Advisor (EEPA) of the EU,  on November 9, alleged "to align the stands of 
USA and EU regarding violation of human and democratic rights in Eritrean".  
 
Our apprehension is about how this conference was organized and how its 
participants were selected. While the most concerned Eritreans, the whole 
opposition forces, especially the EDA – the wide National Front and umbrella of 13 
political parties and organizations working in unison – were excluded. The EDA that 
was formed as a result of the strong and prolonged great efforts of our people, its 
struggling organizations, and genuine civil societies, was excluded from the 
organizing and participation processes of this conference. Our apprehension is also 
based on the possible disparaging impacts of this conference on the ongoing 
struggle and unity of the Eritrean opposition forces. 
 
Our moral obligations and our political convections can not allow us to stand 
indifferently towards any forum raising crucial issues concerning the fate of our 
people and country, be it zonal, regional, or international conference, held without 
the participation of the viable opposition organizations represented by the EDA 
Umbrella, and organizations, movements, civil societies, intellectuals, veterans, 
nationalist religious leaders etc. struggling for change. We in the EDA, at the same 
time as we appreciate and welcome all initiatives taken by any peace loving peoples, 
governments, humanitarian organizations and international communities, for backing 
our ongoing justified and legitimate democratic struggle, we  reject and deem 
unacceptable all maneuvers to design groundless substitutes for the united 
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opposition. In this conference, you could have assured participation of all concerned 
struggling Eritreans and their contribution on the debate of their common cause and 
concern, instead of organizing it in an unjust way of marginalizing approach.  Still, we 
reiterate our appreciation of the EU novel st rive and initiative to tackle our Eritrean 
concern at this level and its attempts to help our people, however,  we think this 
particular conference won’t bear any fruit, for it’s not sowed on the ground conducive 
to that reality.  
 
As we know it all, the relation between The Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) and 
the European Union has been fostered by the External Relation Department of the 
EDA, our permanent representative and contact person in the EU, and the initiative 
of the resolute nationalist volunteers from Eritrean civic societies. Ironically enough 
it’s under such relation, the ongoing exclusive and divisive conference is expected to 
take place. Unfortunately we shall all see what goals and outcome it is designed for, 
and as to how it shines on the current Eritrean political scene. Sidelining the wide 
main stream opposition and embracing divisive and destructive isolated approaches 
is a sad episode that will yield disruption. 
 
The Eritrean Democratic Alliance-EDA is the sole giant and vibrant umbrella and a 
wider united front that reflects the form and substance of the entire mosaic of the 
Eritrean polity. It represents the Eritrean social and political reality. It includes 
political organizations of multinational, national and religious backgrounds that 
struggle for peace, justice and democracy. In this critical situation our country and 
the struggle of the opposition is going through, we are highly astonished by the step 
that excludes the broad national front-EDA but embraces some limited parties in a 
divisive and exclusionist conference. As such we are obliged to raise the following 
points to your attention. 
 
1. The said divisive conference is taking place while the Eritrean dictatorial 
regime, due to its repressive internal and arrogant foreign policy, is totally 
isolated, and while proved as a regional spoiler and almost on the verge to be 
sanctioned by the UN, AU, and IGAAD . To this effect, we are totally 
dumfounded as to why such divisive way is chosen instead of consolidating 
and encouraging sanctions against the regime? 
 
2. As to the conference, we regard it as an attempt to create impediments 
against the widely expected "broad national conference for democratic 
change" for which the entire members of the Eritrean Democratic Alliance, 
organizations, movements, civic societie s, intellectuals, religious celebrities 
and veterans are working for, and looking forward for its realization soon, in 
an all embracing way, to unite all the efforts and capabilities of our people for 
democratic change. 
 
3. We are here to remind that this exclusive conference with all its form and 
content is disruptive, creating mistrust and exclusionist divisive mentality and 
behavior. It disarrays the overall capacities of the member organizations in 
particular and the opposition camp in general. In fact it’s a step to intervene in 
our internal affairs.  
 
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It is with this reality we arrived at the obvious conclusion that the two-day 
Belgium conference that disregards the main opposition body and with those 
mentioned ultimate dangers posed ahead won't be an effective alternative either 
for the realization of peace, justice and democracy for our people or for peace 
and stability for our region. Therefore and as a conclusion, we put the following 
points to be underlined by your office. 
 
1. We assure that no one is delegated, to attend or speak on behalf of the 
Eritrean Democratic Alliance-EDA in the said conference. 
2. We utterly reject and disregard the ongoing conference, be it knowingly or 
unknowingly done, its outcome is not for the benefit of our people or our 
unity and organized common action. In this regard we humbly remind the 
European Union to clarify its stand about organizing such a conference 
and how its participation in it would be. 
3. We eagerly desire and humbly ask The EU to uphold and galvanize the 
already fostered relation with the Eritrean Democratic Alliance. Such 
communication and relations would certainly facilitate for the EU to follow 
up developments in Eritrea, and correctly assess the genuine actors for 
democratic change in the opposition camp, so as to play constructive role 
in the democratization process and avoid such dubious conferences held 
under its auspices. Hereafter, the EDA keenly reminds the EU that such 
conferences should be held in manners that serve the legitimate interests 
of our people, our region and the international community. It should also 
be made open in a fair way where the main stream concerned bodies can 
take part. We are of the opinion that all conference organizing parties 
should refrain from attaining narrow short term gains and concentrate on 
strategic thinking and in a responsible approach.  
4. Therefore, the organizer body of this conference, under the leadership of 
the head of the EEPA and representative of one of Belgian NGO - Dr 
Merijam Van Raysen - and her lobbyist advisors shall bear the 
responsibilities and consequences of the said conference and its 
outcomes.  
 
Tewolde Gebresellasie 
Chairman 
Eritrean Democratic Alliance 
Executive Committee 
 
 
Cc: Mr.Karel De GUCHT 
Commissioner Development  
and Humanitarian Aid 
 
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