ADDIS ABABA– Ethiopia’s aspiration to a sovereign port access is a healthy concern and peaceful approach that will not indulge the country into war or confrontations with neighboring states, a noted expert in the issue said.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Addis Ababa University Water Science Prof. Admasu Gebeyehu stated that Ethiopia maintained its long-cherished peaceful approach in its pursuit of seaports. Historical chronicles, be written or oral as well other narratives have attested that the country has strong tradition of sincere approach in its relations with neighboring states.
Ethiopia’s very nature does not allow invading another country apart from defending itself in the times of transgression. There is no time which attested Ethiopia’s breaching of other country’s territory as form of demonstrating military muscle or achieving greedy interest by force, the expert emphasized.
“We are always prioritizing mutual growth and development and shun war and confrontation as no one can benefit from it. Of course, it may possible to attain one’s desire militarily and by using force, but the result could never bring lasting peace. Hence, pursuing a win-win approach is an indispensible for Ethiopia to realize its quest to sea access and that is what the country is doing.”
Admasu further expressed optimism that neighboring countries would embrace Ethiopia’s offer to mutual growth and prosperity taking into account the benefit of the former’s rich economic potentials for their own people.
“Most of the time, landlocked countries are listed under low income and underdeveloped categories and the situation further intensified their effort to secure seaports and galvanize economic progress. Ethiopia’s case in this regard is quite different from other land locked states as it had own ports for long period of time.”
This scenario has to be changed and Ethiopia’s quest to sea access should be regarded as a normal and peaceful concern that anyone could do so. Since Ethiopia located very close to the sea, it would be easy for it to secure a direct access to ports that would be materialized by absolute serenity and the full consent of the other party.
Ethiopian diplomats are expected to communicate the international community about their country’s firm interest to peaceful approach to port aspiration and assured them that it will never wage war to attain its desire, the academician appealed.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 17 DECEMBER 2023
