By M.A. Egge
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Nebiyu Tedla has said that Ethiopia is committed to developing its legal and diplomatic efforts in order to realize its mission of gaining access to the sea.
Mr. Nebiyu, who spoke to the press in Addis Ababa, said that Ethiopia is grateful to Turkey for facilitating the bilateral talks between Ethiopia and Somalia that took place in Ankara.
He also mentioned that Ethiopia is committed to the implementation of the agreement it signed with Somaliland and that it will not negotiate with anyone on the cooperation and agreement it made with Somaliland.
He indicated that efforts are underway to prevent unnecessary conflicts regarding access to the sea.
On the other hand, the spokesman said that Ethiopia is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon to ensure the safety of Ethiopians living there.
The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi and the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding on January 1 of this year 2024 that gives Ethiopia the opportunity to play a role in the Red Sea and in return Ethiopia becoming the first country to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign state.