Since the launching of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been holding talks quite a while now regarding the technicality of the dam with a tangible deal yet to be produced.
The latest talks failed to produce an agreement with Ethiopia squarely rejecting US-brokered deal on the dam which Ethiopia argues the proposal hurts its national interests.
The deadlock of the talks in fact has mainly had to do with Egypt’s slippery positions and smear campaign to stop the construction of the dam.
Despite Egypt’s tendencies to politicize and internationalize a technical matter of the dam, GERD construction is progressing well and it continues to be the flagship and major national interest of every Ethiopia.
In fact, Ethiopia remains committed to entering an agreement with downstream countries before filling and operating the dam to enhance their confidence in the process and ensure that the dam does not have a significant impact on them. However, if agreement cannot be reached before the schedule for filling, Ethiopia’s dam cannot be held hostage of downstream goodwill.
In this regard, the Declaration of Principles (DoP) clearly states that the construction of the GERD will run in parallel with the studies and preparation of guidelines for filling and operation. The construction of the GERD includes filling and operation as they are designed to run in tandem
The Nile as the main water resource is also a matter of survival for the country. And, it is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is the unilateral matter which aims to connect the staggering number of the population who still remain off the grid without causing significant harm to the Nile downstream countries.
Ethiopia requires no country’s permission and will to construct a dam inside its territories. International water laws do also grant the country a right to develop its resources without inflicting significant harm to other countries
Ethiopia would only resume talks if the negotiation should continue with a changed format.
This issue of Dam safety has been raised by Egypt to divert the topic of discussion agenda. International Panel of Experts have witnessed that GERD is designed based on international standard. The safety of the Dam was discussed and confirmed on the panel. Beside international experts, Ethiopia has submitted a 153 document that ensure the quality and the strength of the Dam. The current issue on the safety of the dam is an attempt to divert agenda.
Other observers such as AU and NBI can help dilute the influence of the two observer. This should come through negotiation. Ethiopia should prepare its own technical and legal documents for negotiation and present that to the countries for negotiation. This would enable Ethiopia to seat on the driving seat during negotiation. It will also improve Ethiopia’s negogation power.
The Ethiopian Herald May 15/2020
