BY MENGESHA AMARE
ADDIS ABABA – Sudanese are keen on settling the border issues with Ethiopia peacefully, said Ethiopian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sudan Yibeltal Aemero.
Briefing virtual conference participants drawn from university scholars and Ethiopia Press Agency (EPA) media personnel on the current Ethio-Sudan border issues, Amb. Yibeltal said yesterday that as Sudanese are peace-loving people, they need the border problem created between the two countries to be solved peacefully instead of seeking military solutions.
“Since the Sudanese government has taken an illegitimate and unacceptable measure that doesn’t consider the long standing bilateral ties between the two countries and the agreement they reached earlier, Ethiopia firmly believes in solving the problem peacefully and even the international law obliges the government to retreat back and pursue the dialogue full of civility as this is the sole option to bring about lasting peace.”
Presenting a paper about the historic relationship between the two countries and the current situation, Middle East Analyst Tigistu Awolu said that the seizure of boarder areas on the side of Sudan is neither lucrative nor appropriate.
According to Tigistu, the way the government has pursued couldn’t be criticizes if it believes that it is a worthwhile. However, if Sudan has taken this position as a fearful stance, it has made a grave mistake.
Explaining that Ethiopians have never been kneel down for any sort of invaders in their history, he said Sudan has to comprehend that all citizens will provide a prompt response to the call their government will make.
He further said that unless Sudan is discharging third party hidden agenda, it is historically or politically incapable of fighting against Ethiopia.
A forum participant from Mekele University, Associate Professor Ayele Bekele on his part said what Sudan is doing right now is entirely unacceptable and it will leave black spot on Sudanese history, and the sound decision and patience on the side of Ethiopia will ultimately bear fruits.
He also cited that there are a number of historical records and legal manifestations that help Ethiopia to be triumphant over the Sudan at the end of the day.
The provocation of Sudan and other countries will cease when Ethiopia further fosters its economic growth thereby being an influential Horn state. To do this, properly and promptly completing the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has to be top on agenda with a view to diverting their conspiracy.
An Anthropologist from Addis Ababa University, Professor Getachew Kassa also stated that all ambassadors of Ethiopia deployed across the globe have to take advantage of all the opportunities they have had to well inform the international community about the reality on the ground and reveal the stance of their government as what Ambassador Yibeltal has done.
Stating that Ethiopian ambassadors in every country shall well understand cultures, history and languages of the respective countries of their assignment, professor Getachew said.
The Ethiopian Herald 13 February 2021
