00:00With full military pomp, Ethiopia is marking the 130th anniversary of the Basil of Adwa,
00:06celebrating its historic 1896 victory over invading Italian forces.
00:12As the parade fills the streets, tensions simmer.
00:15Forces are mobilised amid rising strains with neighbouring Eritrea over access to the sea.
00:21War does not benefit anyone. No one benefits from it.
00:25Instead, it results in the shedding of blood, the loss of lives and the devastation of nations.
00:31A nation means people. Therefore, we should agree, engage.
00:34And if there is a problem, we should sit and discuss and use the port together.
00:43I envision another Adwa.
00:45For me, the issue of securing port access and ensuring national prosperity represents a contemporary Adwa.
00:51I hope that every Ethiopian will help transform this vision into reality by prioritising peace,
00:58restoring the port and fostering the prosperity of our nation.
01:03Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, taking the vital port of Assab with it.
01:11Addis Ababa says regaining sea access is a national priority.
01:17Ethiopia has a historic legacy of influence, having extended its rule as far as Yemen, India and Madagascar in ancient
01:25times.
01:26Therefore, it is imperative for the younger generation to work in unity to secure access to the Red Sea port,
01:32which has been mistakenly lost.
01:39Prime Minister Akhbi Ahmed has made security access a central goal of his government,
01:44as dance critics say is only adding fuel to the fire with Asmara.
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