STATEMENT ON THE DAY OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FROM THE
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HEAD
OF THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA,
LEGWAILA JOSEPH LEGWAILA

On behalf of all the members of UNMEE, I want to congratulate the people of Eritrea on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of your national independence.

This day of national celebration was reached through great sacrifices by all Eritrean people, who fought for freedom and laboured to rebuild their country. In the course of your long struggle, and in the ten years since, the people of Eritrea have shown tremendous determination and national pride.

And it is significant that you are now beginning to mend relations with your brothers and sisters in that struggle, the people of Ethiopia.

Today, peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia is starting to take root. Building peace is a process -- slow and often difficult -- but it is happening. Peace is necessary for national development, for Eritrea to fulfill its hopes and aspirations, and for its people to flourish.

We are here to support your efforts to build a future marked by peace, independence and prosperity. UNMEE celebrates this day with you.

Congratulations and best wishes.

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For additional information contact the UNMEE Public Information Offices: Addis Ababa, phone 251-1-443396 (e-mail, walkera@un.org); Asmara, phone: 291-1-151908 (e-mail: kellyb@un.org)

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Not an official document of the United Nations. Maintained by the Peace and Security Section of the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (c) United Nations 2001