The Prime Minister made this statement during a discussion on national television with his social affairs advisor regarding the completion of the Grand Renaissance Dam.

During the discussion, he said, "The Red Sea was in our hands 30 years ago; the Red Sea 30 years ago is yesterday's history. The mistake that was made yesterday; it will be corrected tomorrow."

The Prime Minister also indicated that the mistake made in the Red Sea is not very serious and can be corrected.

Following this, Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General of Foreign Relations and Cooperation at the Ministry of Defense, stated that the Ethiopian port issue is an existential one and that numerous discussions and activities that have not been reported in the media are being held to answer the question.

In this regard, the general pointed out that Ethiopia's right to access the sea is supported not only by history but also by international law; he cited Ethiopia's distance from the Red Sea as evidence for this.