Belay Molla (Dr.), leader of the Amhara National Congress, stated that forces seeking to grant access to Ethiopia's national interests for historical enemies will not be influential in Ethiopian politics. He emphasized that Ethiopia's Red Sea access is a natural and legal right, and the government is addressing the issue through diplomacy. The party supports elevating this to a national agenda.
In a statement delivered in Addis Ababa on Ketit 29, 2018 (Fana BC), Belay Molla (Dr.), leader of the Amhara National Congress (ANC), asserted that political forces advocating for granting access to Ethiopia's national interests to historical enemies will not hold influence in Ethiopian politics. He described Ethiopia's access to the Red Sea as a natural heritage cherished by the population, noting that attempts to cede it without legal basis constitute a profound betrayal. Bringing this historical asset back into the current generation's focus, he said, generates significant tension.
"Forces seeking to provide access to national interest to historical enemies will not be influential in Ethiopian politics," Molla stated, emphasizing that the question of sea ownership is grounded in Ethiopia's natural, legal, and constitutional rights. The government, he noted, is pursuing long-term diplomatic efforts to address public concerns and safeguard Ethiopia's strategic interests. His party affirms its support for elevating this issue to a national agenda and endorses its advancement.
Ethiopia can create favorable conditions to reaffirm its historical and natural right to sea access, according to Molla, with the ANC working honestly to resolve this just question. He reiterated that forces serving to hand over national interests to historical enemies lack influence. Ethiopia has affirmed its role as a major user of the Blue Nile for hydroelectric power amid various challenges, and joint efforts are needed on the sea issue as well. Historical enemies seek to obstruct Ethiopia's development progress, but Ethiopians manage their common adversaries through diligent projects, he added. No other agenda warrants attention over these national interests, Molla concluded.