Ethiopia: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have concluded their trilateral negotiations surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with an inconclusive note promising to continue talk “in good faith”.
The two-day talks, which included representatives from the three countries to address contentious issues surrounding the GERD project on the Blue Nile, ended in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The negotiations centred on finding common ground on key issues, including the filling and operation of the dam as well as mechanisms for resolving disputes that may arise in the future.
Ambassador Mr. Seleshi Bekele, head of the Ethiopian negotiating team, commented that “the parties exchanged constructive ideas on various outstanding issues. Ethiopia reiterates its commitment to continue negotiating in good faith.”
In a statement released by its Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt noted that the latest round of discussions concerning the $4.2 billion dam concluded without making any significant progress.
According to the report, Ethiopia still opposed compromise solutions or internationally agreed-upon technical arrangements that could address its specific interests related to the GERD without encroaching upon the rights and interests of the downstream nations. The statement added that the Egyptian negotiating team remains committed to constructive negotiations with clearly defined objectives.
Recently, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr. Sameh Shoukry remarked in an address to the UN General Assembly that Cairo wants a “binding agreement” on the dam. “It would be a mistake to assume we can accept a fait accompli when it comes to the very lives of more than 100 million Egyptian citizens,” Mr. Shoukry remarked.
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