Addis Ababa, November 4, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s quest to have access to the sea will play vital role to expediting regional integration among countries in the Horn of Africa, veteran diplomat and international relations scholar underlined.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said recently that Ethiopia’s desire to have access to the sea is based on the principle of give and take as well as on shared interests with neighboring countries, ENA’s report recalls.
Ethiopia’s quest for access to the sea is in line with its foreign policy on the East Africa region.
The veteran diplomat Ambassador Tiruneh Zena stated that Ethiopia has been demanding access to sea for a long time.
Ethiopia this time made the demand based on the principle of give and take as well as shared benefits that have been in practice in the contemporary diplomacy.
The proposal will never affect the interest and rights of other countries as it would be realized through negotiations and agreements with the principle of shared development, he stressed.
“Countries in Africa, particularly in the Eastern part of the continent, are currently exerting efforts to trade among themselves and expedite their collective economic development. In this regard, the idea to work together for shared development is a good opportunity for the countries in the region because Ethiopia has been growing rapidly and expressing its interest to work with the countries for common goal.”
The veteran diplomat stated that a diplomatic endeavor based on shared benefits and the principle of give and take is instrumental to strengthen regional integration.
He further stressed the need to work together with a view to realizing Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea as the nation requires a port that can shoulder the rapidly growing economy.
“I think this is the proper path. Forceful ways other than cooperation and shared benefits would never be sustainable; and it is not also appropriate. Creating a win-win situation through negotiations and discussion is the best way.”
Member of the House of People’s Representative and international law scholar, Sadiq Adem said that Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea is acceptable in all aspects as it is based on international laws enacted on water and access to the sea.
Several landlocked countries have been able to access the sea through the available international laws, he noted.
The way Ethiopia presented its demand for access to sea signifies the strong desire of the country to realizing shared development with other countries.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea signed in 1982 in Jamaica allows landlocked countries to use ports located in other countries and to utilize resources in sea.