People are either very much confused about the difference between the two or deliberately trying to confuse the two for their own end-goal. It should be noted.
Access to the sea is reportedly enshrined in international conventions (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)) and presumably every nation of the world has the right to raise a claim to it while a port service is simply a sort of commercial dealings between two parties (the provider and the consumer, like any other commodity of international trade).
What is that so difficult to understand the difference between the two properly and use them properly instead of trying to mix the unrelated terms or ideas and make yet a lot of noises here and there?
What Ethiopia had so far with the tiny republic of Djibouti is a commercial port service deal while what Ethiopia signed with the Somaliland Republic is a right to access the sea, based on the aforementioned international convention, which shouldn't necessarily has to be based on Ethiopia recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. This can be realized, if necessary, outside of the agreement for access to the sea provisions.
The other confusing element is also the attempt to try to dictate if Ethiopia is entitled to have its own naval base. To answer this second question it could suffice to mention or remember what is the purpose of a naval force in the first place anywhere in the world? Is that to protect the national interest of the owning nation of the base? In that case why is somebody so hard pressed to provide a reason why Ethiopia shouldn't be allowed to protect its own national interest by having a naval force when needed and where is it that was written to forbid Ethiopia from having it?
If this could somehow turns out to be a valid claim, then there must also be a rule somewhere which should dictate if a nation should or shouldn't have any defense or security apparatus of its own, isn't it?
But I can also say there are too many people in here suffering from the newly discovered disease of the day called brain-rot and the challenge is not so simple, no matter how much we try to make people become aware of it and take a necessary precautions.
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DefendTheTruth
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DefendTheTruth
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Re: The (right to) Sea Access versus the privilege of Port service
At the same time the Somaliland recognition as an independent state is on its own independent track (separate from the issues of MoU or so called Ankara Declaration) of becoming a reality, no matter if Ethiopia recognizes it or not. Ethiopia can make her own decision based on the facts on the ground and taking all necessary issues of her own national interest to recognize or not recognize the de facto independent state, like she did over the past over 30 years.
The issue of Somaliland independence has never been an integral part of the MoU signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland with regard to access to the sea.
The issue of Somaliland independence has never been an integral part of the MoU signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland with regard to access to the sea.
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Tog Wajale E.R.
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Re: The (right to) Sea Access versus the privilege of Port service
☆ Bissbiss Shettattam Chigaram Galla Bantu ☆!!
Re: The (right to) Sea Access versus the privilege of Port service
Access implies the privilege to use the port services of a neighboring nation under peaceful conditions.
For instance, the presence of French, American, Italian, Japanese and Chinese military bases in Djibouti has made it possible for a peaceful relations to exist between Ethiopia and Djibouti, enabling Ethiopia to have sea access without violating Djibouti's sovereignty.
The recent deployment of 20,000 Egyptian troops to Somalia has also given Ethiopia the ultimatum to either seek peaceful relations with Somalia or face the consequences of its aggressive behavior.
It's very unfortunate that, the only language our Ethiopian leaders understand is force, i.e. the military force of powerful nations.
The Horn of Africa will only start to enjoy peace, stability, and development, when certain leaders in the region adhere to international laws and UN charters which they are a signatory. The first sign of maturity is the discovery that force does not equate right, or might is not right.
For instance, the presence of French, American, Italian, Japanese and Chinese military bases in Djibouti has made it possible for a peaceful relations to exist between Ethiopia and Djibouti, enabling Ethiopia to have sea access without violating Djibouti's sovereignty.
The recent deployment of 20,000 Egyptian troops to Somalia has also given Ethiopia the ultimatum to either seek peaceful relations with Somalia or face the consequences of its aggressive behavior.
It's very unfortunate that, the only language our Ethiopian leaders understand is force, i.e. the military force of powerful nations.
The Horn of Africa will only start to enjoy peace, stability, and development, when certain leaders in the region adhere to international laws and UN charters which they are a signatory. The first sign of maturity is the discovery that force does not equate right, or might is not right.
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DefendTheTruth
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