ADDIS ABABA – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MWIE) briefed European and American resident ambassadors in Addis Ababa on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project .
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew, and Engineer Gedion Assfaw from MWIE delivered yesterday a successful briefing on the construction, filling and operation of the dam. Minister Gedu told the ambassadors about the status of the project and the tripartite talks held so far between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
The officials briefed them on the importance of the dam being fully funded by the people and government of Ethiopia to the region and the African continent.
They said Ethiopia appreciates the statement issued recently by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat regarding the dam.
The ministry also briefed Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern Countries’ resident Ambassadors in Addis Ababa about the dam last Wednesday.
The presenters expressed Ethiopia’s belief in dialogue highlighting the country’s willingness to go to an extra mile to make the tripartite talks among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt successful.
Minister Gedu and Eng. Gedion noted Ethiopia’s commitment to equitably and reasonably utilize its water resources in line with the accepted principles of causing no harm and cooperation.
The Ambassadors said controversial issues regarding GERD should be solved only through dialogue.
In the same token, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his high-level delegation held virtual talks last Friday with his Sudanese counterpart Abdala Hamdok focused on exploring amicable solutions related to the GERD to resolve outstanding and misunderstood issues between the two parties.
Abiy briefed the Sudanese prime minister about on environmental issues, dam safety and data exchange facilitation.
The Prime Minister also provided progress information on the issues raised and highlighted the role of the GERD will play in strengthening the economies of three countries concerned.
Agreement was made for technical level discussions to continue, led by the Ministers of Water Affairs of the countries.
The Chairperson of AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomes the recent developments related to the Grand dam and commends the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Sudan for agreeing to resume technical level engagements through their Water Ministers to resolve outstanding differences and reach an amicable solution.
The Chairperson published a statement on May 22, 2020 encouraging the tripartite to pursue their engagements in good faith, guided by principles of cooperation, common understanding and transparency, as stipulated in the 2015 Declaration of Principles on the GERD.
The AU Commission stands ready to assist all parties in finding a peaceful resolution and achieving a mutually beneficial agreement, the statement indicated.
