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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Eritrea: Independence isn't EnoughWhen 11 years ago Eritrea won its independence from Ethiopia after a bloody 30-year war, everyone agreed or at least seemed to believe that the worse for its people was over. The bright horizons of independence were expected to provide the initial thrust for economic prosperity. The strategic location on the Red Sea, where huge amounts of international trade were passing by, as well as the close links with the Arab world could have done the remaining in order to push ahead the new country on the path of modernity. Eritrea then had its 15 minutes of celebrity but wasn't able to use them properly for its own good. Its independence wasn't enough to push ahead the country into the age of modernity. More than a decade after the independence many external observers agree that the high expectations weren't grounded. Eritrea is still remaining among the poorest countries in the world as it was a decade ago. It still has territorial and other serious disputes with some of its neighbors (Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen). Third of the population are still nomads. Four fifths are peasants. Almost nine tenths haven't access to running water. The country is far from the modernity. Only local pirates occasionally take advantage of the international sea trade lanes. Eritrea is still an independence country, but this fact hasn't brought a lasting peace. A limited in scale war between Eritrea and Ethiopia between 1998 and 2000 has ravaged the Eritrea's most productive agricultural area in the south. Although it seems that the clouds of new military conflict are far away, Washington predicts a possible new war with the landlocked Ethiopia. Some international terrorist groups are said to enjoy some popular support in the region, which explains the frequent travel warnings for this part of Africa. The constant danger of sudden political, and territorial changes in the region partly explain the lack of foreign investors' enthusiasm. The numerous landmine fields and other legacies of the recent wars seem to be enough to keep the big money away from the country. The lack of domestic market makes any investment risky, and the lack of modern tourist facilities keep away the major tourist flows. For those travelers who dare to defy the dangerous landmines, the frequent border skirmishes, and the ferocious sea pirates the country offers cheap housing and food. Its capital city of Asmara has the reputation as one of the safest capital cities in Africa.
Eritrea country profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Eritrea.
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