This column of the paper carries the ideas stipulated in the statement made by Prosperity Party executive committee about national and geopolitical affairs.
The geopolitical sphere where Ethiopia is located has still attracted the attention of the whole world. Yes, Red Sea is also mentioned as the very eye-catching strategic plot for international commerce and other related activities next to Mediterranean Sea.
Having a superior position in this strategic regional arena is believed to provide nations with great political and economic implications. Hence many countries coming from the edge of the world have never refrained themselves from stretching their hands to stir the political trajectory apart from setting up military camps around the Red Sea, developing ports and extending trade routes. Ethiopia is therefore created and has lived with the Red Sea.
Ethiopia has had an indispensible role in fostering political, military and economic movements in and around the Red Sea since ancient times. What makes our participation peculiar to that of others is the demand of the country does have a direct bearing to the nature and vicinity of the Red Sea. Even it is impossible for Ethiopia to be out of the political intervention of the Red Sea. Unfortunately, some countries have assumed that their interest with regard to the Red Sea could be quenched whenever Ethiopia is made lame. This emotion by no means could be acceptable as a sovereign nation.
It must be well comprehended that we Ethiopians are not interested in losing our country’s national interest in force and diplomatic influence. When we would like to get benefited from Red Sea, we are engaging in a ‘give and take’ principle, not by getting confronted with any nation. Our diplomatic history has attested, and be an exemplary move that we are willing to run activities in a harmonious way to meet common desires with others. Ethiopia has a potential to decide the condition of the Horn of Africa and North Eastern Africa as it is the greatest source of the Nile water apart from its being a strategic site around the Red Sea. As historical chronicles have confirmed that one of the very reasons Europeans and Asians had been endeavoring to get Ethiopia since Greece civilization was to know well the source of Nile and control over it.
It is crystal clear that those who think their benefit is hurt have developed threat when Ethiopia is becoming strong in the Horn in particular and in the continent in general following the two geopolitical reasons.
However, the very reality that needs to be well underlined that Ethiopia has never had either in ancient or these days any intention to impose a threat on others. Likewise, we will never allow others to impose any sorts of threats or impact on our country’s national interest. Ethiopia has undertaken a number of activities with a view to strengthen the relationship of the region and coming up with peace and tranquility following the recent reform. For example, some are not happy with the relationship we created with neighboring Eritrea and the overall connection with the whole region.
It is also clear that the current confrontation created with Sudan shouldn’t have created when weighed against the longstanding bilateral tie the two countries have had since long back. Even right at this time, we are working hard to resolve what happed at border areas in a peaceful way taking the time-tested and long standing relations into account. We also hope that Sudanese would enjoy resolving the issue peacefully coming out of the sentiment of territorial expansion and provoking confrontation.
Those bodies who do not want to see Ethiopia’s prosperity would like to create weak country. They might use three means for this: they get Ethiopia engaged in war with its neighbor employing any futile attempt, weakening Ethiopian economy and push Ethiopians into clash dichotomizing them in religion and territorial affairs.
True, Ethiopia has conducted thousands of wars with foreign invaders. The major aim of these wars was giving the country hard time not to think about avenues for civilization. Sure, the wars did have to some extent negative repercussions. There were attempts, of course apart from the impacts of the wars, to withhold the growth of the country via seizing its trade routes and making it landlocked, embargoing it from having international loan and aid as well as hindering its development effort of constructing mega projects. This is the very reason that Ethiopia’s efforts in its history to construct a number of dams including the GRD could never be successful so far.
Lack of finance to accomplish the project, civil wars and the ever-fluctuating world politics have been attributable to Ethiopia’s sluggish pace to reap the benefits out of the Abay River. It is also well known that some countries have worked to ban Ethiopia from effectively using the Abbay River though supporting the confrontations on the side of neighboring countries and provoking them too, interfering in internal affairs and supporting armed groups against their country as well as adding fuel to fire on civil wars, and nagging donors not to assist the country.
There is also imposition under the guise of diplomacy when we move in unison to run homegrown economy and declare policy discretion following the reform. Our diplomacy partners even overlook what the Junta did, which pushed the country to designate it as terrorist and diplomatically force us.
The last labor is the delivery stage. It is becoming vividly lucid that there are forces what are not happy about our relentless effort to construct Abbay dam and nearing completion, our working hard to regain our influential status quo on the Red sea, alleviating the ugly relations with Eritrea and establish family tie, being triumphant over the Junta out of their expectation with in the shortest time possible, being committed to buttress homegrown economy formulating a ten year economic reform plan as well as starting journey towards a prosperous nation consolidating societal unity and cooperation.
This time around all Ethiopians at home and abroad have to firmly stand together singling out two major things: The internal affairs and external ones. Internal affairs are solved using scholars’ negotiation, round table discussion and developing mutual understanding. Since they were not created over night, they could hardly meet overnight, too. We are heirs of the layered problems for years.
A person who is indebted has to oblige to deal with two things. They are expected to pay a loan outside of their times on the one hand, and solve the challenges of their time on the other. This is what we have now encountered. It is undoubted that we can solve our internal problems unless it is a matter of time. The pressure coming out of overseas doesn’t give us time.
The passengers of a given boat can argue or debate or agree so long as the boat exists. No argument, agreement, competition, confrontation or harmonious fashion when it sinks. The matter of a country is prettily like this. Our forefather and foremothers delivered this country with its full freedom and sovereignty not, they were not baffled by internal problems, but their commitment not to compromise on national affairs and sense of belongingness.
Efforts towards ensuring rule of law have continued to get all the sources of anti-peace elements’ futile attempts causing death, displacement and conflict enforcement dried for good. Today is the right time to move in unison to effectively contain the challenged forwarded towards Ethiopia from left to right to help the country seize the ladder of success via consolidating unity and fraternity more than ever before.
Especially effectively dealing with the two national missions of the country can confirm that Ethiopia does have true sons and daughters. These two national missions are filling the second phase of the Dam and successfully conducting the upcoming national elections. These two can potentially determine the future fate of Ethiopian and all Ethiopians. We are at the very verge of successfully and democratically conducting the election.
All the required prerequisites have been accomplished. We are almost solely left with the poling day. Successfully holding it provided that nation with big victory. Without a shadow of doubt, the election will push the country a step forward in its journey towards democratization. We cordially call on all bodies to work hand in glove to peacefully and successfully accomplish the election. The government in turn continues working hard with a view to respecting the rule of law. It has been working to rehabilitate citizens displaced for various reasons.
The government along with partners will continue strengthening reconstruction work and humanitarian assistance in Tigray State.
Taking religious and ethnic differences in Ethiopia as blessings, citizens have been tirelessly working to complete the mega projects started earlier. Besides, giving priority to action rather than words, supporting our defense forces to the best of our ability and focusing on our political leadership on national mission, ensuring diplomacy to efficiently represent Ethiopia in the world stage; we also call on all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to stand with it expressing support at every possible way.
On this occasion, the government appreciates true Ethiopians who are countering the unwarranted international pressure and echoing the Ethiopian interest in the Middle East media in connection with our Renaissance Dam (GERD).
“You have proved your citizenship beyond words. Fellow Ethiopians, who are countering the external challenges we face in relation to our national sovereignty with expertise and voice, Ethiopia and the people will equating you with heroes and heroines in the battlefields. There is no doubt that history will remember you all.”
Prosperity Executive Committee, May 28, 2021 Addis Ababa
BY MENGESHA AMARE
The Ethiopian Herald 30 May 2021
