The primary objective of Egypt is delaying the filling of the dam until this rainy season is over. Once the rainy season is over Egypt will get adequate time to divert the negotiation to other issues as Ethiopia will have to wait for the next rainy season, says Berhanu Belachew Geography Lecturer at Kotebe Metropolitan University.
The filling and operation of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is still a hot issue circulating between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Ethiopia has remained firm in its stance in its tripartite talk despite Egyptian blind and unlawful move.
The negotiation was paused after the USA and World Bank brokered deal process between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan on the first filling and operation of the GERD is unfruitful. USA, EU and South Africa backed calls for Ethiopia to resume talks over its plans to begin filling a giant hydropower dam that are opposed by Egypt. Ethiopia wants to start filling the GERD as the next rainy season begins in July. Egypt insists on having a say in how quickly it is filled, because it will affect the flow of the Nile River, the nation’s main source of fresh water.
Briefing local media outlets regarding the ongoing tripartite talks over the Grand Renaissance Dam, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedu Andargachew said Ethiopia has managed to build the dam despite immeasurable challenges posed by the Egyptian side who had been trying to put Ethiopia’s financial options into a strait jacket.
The absolute need for development and the legitimate right of Ethiopia to provide electricity to almost 65 percent of its population have been driving Ethiopia in building the dam. Although Egypt contributes nothing for the water share of the Nile River, it still clings to the colonial day water treaties that do not give recognition either to Ethiopia’s or the other riparian countries’ natural right to utilize the water resource.
He said Ethiopia is participating in the tripartite talks taking the accepted principles of cooperation and causing no significant harm in addition to recognizing its rights to equitably and reasonably utilize its water resources.
The Republic of Sudan has to be hugely appreciated for its positive and encouraging role in helping the talks run in a matured and cooperative manner.
Birhanu told The Ethiopian Herald that, it’s obvious that in order to develop projects on the Basin, Ethiopia needs external financial assistance. Egypt is using all possible leverage to discourage global financial institutions and donor countries from supporting Ethiopia’s projects.
“There is no need for the approval of the second party to fill and operate the dam as far as the dam is in our territory. They never disallow us from filling the dam since the water is flowing from Ethiopia to Egypt and not vice versa. Both negotiation and filling should go parallel. Egyptians have the right leave out from the talk, but Ethiopia will maintain its firm stance on the negotiation”. It is not
negotiation rather it is giving and receiving and Ethiopia does not receive anything than giving, he says.
Quoting article five of international water law stated that “watercourse States shall in their respective territories utilize an international watercourse in an equitable and reasonable manner. But we Ethiopians are not using it at all. Mentioning article seven of international water law the dam will not cause any harm, and the water will flow as usual by hitting turbine and without holding any water.
Ethiopian, Egyptian and Sudanese expert know the reality on the ground that from the very beginning of the construction of the project as it does not harm any countries. “Egypt built Aswan dam without noticing Ethiopia to build it. But Ethiopia gives a document more than noticing earlier the construction”.
He said that, most of the time Egyptian diplomats try to change the idea while go to other countries. There is no binding agreement between Ethiopia and Egypt on the project. We have the right to keep hushed and responding to the issue.
Assistant Professor and Director of International Affairs Office with Jimma University, Ermias Admasu said that, “In my opinion, keeping the Dam out of operation is in the best interest of Egypt and the best way of achieving this aim is by delaying the negotiation process from bearing fruit with the help of unrealistic demands untenable to Ethiopia. This implies that Ethiopia should take an unflinching position to the immediate filling and operation of the dam in line with its plan”.
Egypt’s most popular media outlets and officials are trying to exhibit the negative sides of the negotiation process. All information sources, for obvious reason, are trying to feed to the general public and the international community that the ongoing negotiation process will come with no positive outcome.
Egypt is exhibiting the negative sides of the discussion and wants to show to the world that each day of the discussion is unfruitful, because of the frustration and the inability to accept an eminent reality. But it is better to acknowledge the importance of peaceful negotiation through confidence building, sharing of proposal and ideas than deceitful propaganda.
The Ethiopian Herald Jun 20,2020
BY HAILE DEMEKE
