Scholars attested that the attempts underway to realize the Ethio-Somaliland MoU need to be strengthened as the issue of securing outlet to the sea has legal basis.
Mizan Teppi University scholars told ENA that the attempts underway to get sea port by the government need to be strengthened as the issue of securing outlet to the sea has a legal basis.
The memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland is based on the principles of mutual development and give and take that are based on international law.
A lecturer at the university, Adane Korbo, said the issue of Ethiopia’s quest for access to the sea and ports should in no way be contested.
Using every peaceful and feasible opportunity to ensure national development is an appropriate decision that provides better future for the upcoming generation, he added.
Although the sea port is outside the country, such a demand has legal basis that is supported by international law, according to Adane.
Using natural resources outside of ones territory is a c
ommon practice and Ethiopia can follow as there is no law that prohibits using port facilities based on the principle of give and take and without harming the interest of the concerned countries, he elaborated.
As Ethiopia is striving to access sea and ports in a peaceful manner through mutual agreements, all countries that have coastline need to allow it to access these based on mutual benefits.
A lecture of economics at same university, Yishaq Negussie said that using such resources is part of a business law, provided that it is based on mutual understanding.
The MoU signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in transparent and legal, he added.
He noted that it is better to work on exploiting such an opportunity instead of setting the issue for creating an undesirable agenda.
According to him, Ethiopia’s strong diplomatic relations is based on the principle of give and take and the parties to the agreement have adhere to the international business law that prohibits any external intervention by a third p
arty.
Somaliland will have access to economic gains from Ethiopia by offering Ethiopia access to the sea, and Ethiopia will benefit from port development in the territory of Somaliland.
Yishak stressed that all concerned countries in the region need to support the efforts of Ethiopia as it is striving to ensure mutually beneficial economic relation in the region.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency