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Genbot 20(May 28)" is a water shade in Ethiopian History as it marks the demise of the diabolic regime, the advent of a democratic order, the tightening of the cohesive bond of nations and nationalities enjoying equal rights as well as the commencement of Ethiopia's sojourn to a rosy future.

The country's electric supply that stood at 340 mw when the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front(EPRDF) took power 21 years back has now shot up to 2000 mw through the relentless effort mounted to harness the country's hydropower potential. An achievement that shows Ethiopia's accelerated move from a murky to a bright life.

These facts were reiterated at a meeting the Addis Ababa Arts Promotion (AAAP) and ECSU jointly called on June 8 to commemorate the 21th anniversary of Genbot 20.The meeting held in the presence of students, instructors and employees of ECSU at Abay hall kicked off after a minute of silence was observed to remember combatants who made a life sacrifice to render a meaningful life to many Ethiopians.

Invited by AAAP manager Ato Wessen Bayu, the guest of honor Dr.Hailemicheal Aberra lit a candle and then together with representatives of employees and students he cut bread.

In a keynote address he made, Dr.Hailemicheal briefed participants on the sparkly achievements EPRDF managed to score after an over two decades ceaseless fight against abject poverty and backwardness. Quoting International broadcasting agencies Dr.Hailemicheal noted following the growth and transformation policy the government brought into play, demonstrating a double digit economic growth, Ethiopia has succeeded to put itself on the 3rd row next to China and India on the shortlist of economically fast growing nations.

He also said international public figures like Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton too have extended words of appreciation to Ethiopia's agriculture led industrialization program that boosted the product and productivity of smallholder farmers.

He said

" Different organizations and countries are showing a desire to emulate the all rounded support the Ethiopian government is extending to farmers in health, education, natural resource conservation and development spheres "

He pointed out facts on the ground show Ethiopia is turning successful in joining countries in the middle income bracket.

He went on to say Ethiopia is working hard on a quality outreach service in the education and health spheres to achieve its growth and transformation agenda, tuned with the Millennium Development Goals .

He reflected the aforementioned outcomes were made possible thanks to combatants who paid selfless sacrifices to ensure a meaningful life to many. He then called on participants to be on their guard against terrorists that pursue a hidden agenda under the guise of religion as well as rent seekers, who put spokes in the development wheels of the country.He urged participants to turnaround Ethiopia imbued with the conviction of serving the public.

On the occasion a lecturer and a researcher from the History Department of Addis Ababa University Ato Teferi Mekonnen had presented a paper entitled "The major impacts 'Genbot 20' created on the development of the Nile Basin"

He noted 'Genbot 20' is not only a milestone that shows the political victory nations and nationalities of Ethiopia achieved but also serves as a landmark that put the country on a firm developmental foothold. He further noted pertaining to infrastructural development Ethiopia has managed to harness Tekeze, Abay ,Baro Akobo and its tributaries.

Explaining about the historical development of the Blue Nile issue, he said, the absence of a sagacious outlook on the part of powers that controlled the lower riparian countries had made the hydro politics of the Nile basin a knotty issue.

He further said

" the Nile water agreements and hydraulic works that were planned by both the British and post independent Egypt and Sudan had made Ethiopia more of a spectator than a beneficiary of the Nile waters."

He mentioned the absence of a clear, well-articulated and acceptable water sharing agreement in the basin was not only a legal impediment but also a major source of mistrust and tension among the riparian states. Adding fire to the fuel, he said, the lower riparian countries were pursuing a short-sighted policy of destabilizing Ethiopia so as to ensure an unrestricted utilization of the Nile Waters. Egyptian leaders were supporting the invasion of Ethiopia by Somalia troops, he recalled. They were also agitating Ethiopian Muslims to clash against their Christian brothers, he added.

According to him, during the reign of the past two states Ethiopia had the bent of brushing sensitive issues aside focusing attention on minor issues. When Ethiopia, referred the tower of Africa, was hard hit by drought, only songs that lament the Blue Nile were being chanted.

He said, mobilizing an all out support from its people and withstanding external pressure the incumbent government of Ethiopia has took actions to unilaterally develop the basin in a way that doesn't affect the lower riparian countries. This way Ethiopia has foiled Egyptians tactic of curtailing Ethiopia's loan garnering channels. Doing a diplomatic works, Ethiopia has also got the upper riparian countries on board of harnessing the basin for common good.

He noted the gorge dam Ethiopia is about to build around the Benishangul Gumuze Regional state has the capacity of generating 6 thousand mega watt electricity. Fulfilling its own demand it will enable Ethiopia cater for the power demand of neighboring countries, he expressed optimism. It is a monuments dam that drove the sentiment of Ethiopians to the same pitch and created a feeling of oneness, he added.

He noted apart from affording electricity to lower riparian countries, the hydropower project will spare them siltation and over flooding problems.Activities show Ethiopia's infrastructural development work could positively impact the development of neighboring countries as well, he concluded.

Following the presentations comments given by students include: led by its visionary leaders EPRDF has escorted people of Ethiopia from a darkness enveloped era to a sunlit one. Ethiopians should keep on backing up EPRDF's endeavors with financial and technical support.

When the Grand Renaissance Dam is finalized Ethiopia will certainly make a developmental leap forward. It is interesting to know Blue Nile, which was a source of unrest, has now turned a source of mutual development to the upper and lower riparian countries.

It is heartening to hear Aljazeera and CNN mentioning Ethiopia's strides as a move from starvation to industrialization.

Responding to the question why Egyptians use diplomacy and threat interchangeably as the situation proves fit. Ato Teferi noted the ousted Egyptian leaders were using the Blue Nile as a scare tactic to distract the attention of Egyptians from internal political turmoil. But now things are changing, he said.

In a concluding remark he made Dr.Hailemicheal Aberra noted to make development a reality and unshackle Africa from the chain of backwardness it is tied up with, there is a need to think outside the box.He made clear painting an imaginary enemy and scaring their own people regimes can't grip the rein of power for long.

Ethiopia's wise stance is reflected in its decision for a common growth.He promised ECSU will keep on conducting research based meetings to create a national level consensus.

The meeting was made lively with poems recitation, melodies songs and a traditional coffee ceremony.It was noted that young researchers and instructors constitute the Addis Ababa Arts Promotion that has been organizing different events of national and continental interests.