Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is among the first officials of the government to congratulate fellow Ethiopians on the successful first round filling completion of the mega project Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). “This is a historic day that the first filling of the GERD has come to a completion. I would like to congratulate fellow people of Ethiopia for taking the Dam’s construction to this decisive stage through collective effort” he said on his message.
Current rainfall and runoff situation in the region has made it conducive to fill the dam in . In the negotiations on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD, Ethiopia is committed to a balanced and win-win negotiation that ascertains the Abay River will benefit all the three countries. It has become evident over the past two weeks in the rainy season that the GERD first year filling is achieved and the dam under construction is already overtopping.
The dam is the insignia of the current generation in proving that it can accomplish grand projects. It is a spark that sheds lights on the years of remorse for our questions are getting answered. It is an audible voice to all those that attempted to break our will in that we are steadfast to get rid of the poverty they long imposed upon us.
I guess that the world would now better understand the fact that our Dam is a turning point in our effort of taking the next height and can stand upright. Now, we behold, achieved the filling of the Dam per our schedule without soliciting finance from nobody and without harming any party.
This is the time to demonstrate that our Dam, aside from not posing harm to the downstream countries, benefits the downstream states. We have no intention of harming Sudan and Egypt both in the process of the construction and operation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew and Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Sileshi Bekele also expressed a congratulatory message on the successful completion of the first filling of the GERD. Gedu twitted that “At the beginning Abay was a river, after taming it turned to a lake as the river continues its natural flow. Now Abay as a lake capitulated to all Ethiopia’s development aspirations.”
Sileshi said all Ethiopians on the thriving completion of the filling of the dam with 4.9 billion cubic meters of water. The impediment of the dam completed within few days without interrupting the natural flow of the river to the lower basin. The leaders’ discussion was remarkable and smooth. They settled to resolve the technical and legal issues that have not yet reached an agreement through continuous discussions, he added.
Accordingly, the leaders decided the issue of all levels of water filling to fully agree in a short period of time and a lasting and comprehensive agreement should be reached to conclude future negotiations, including future water use, he underlined.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald Dr.Yacob Arsano Political Science and International Relations lecturer at Addis Ababa University and Researcher of Nile Water Affairs, said that from the very commencement the project is constructing by the Ethiopian peoples and it is self financed project. The commitment and eagerness of the people is beyond explanation. Accordingly the government of Ethiopia is working with commitment so as to realize the dream of Ethiopians.
He said that the tripartite talk that was held so far between the three counties concerning the operation and filling of the dam is still unfruitful. Accordingly Egypt called on the US, United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Arab League and others to intervene in the dispute over the GERD, following the unfruitful tripartite talk between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
In the face of international indifference or at times unhealthy meddling in certain African conflicts, “African solutions to African problems” reflects the justifiable need for greater African responsibility, autonomy and the imperative to develop indigenous conflict prevention and management capacities.
As to Yacob backing the issue to the African Union and resolving the difference among the three countries is the request of Ethiopia. For Ethiopia backing the issue to Africa Union is a great success and also it is success for AU as well since it reflects the stance of the organizations as the primary objective of the organizations is to solve problems within Africans.
On the other hand it will cultivate trust for other African countries. It is important to recognize the Ethiopia’s diplomatic stance and idea delivered by the country is great. It is exemplary for other African nations that their issue will be solved by African Union, Yacob noted.
Advisor to the Minister of Water and Energy, and Engineer Tefera Beyene agreed that nations have the right to use their resource based on the principle of equity and fairness; without causing significant harm on the downstream countries.
Ethiopia believes that from the very beginning the construction of the dam commenced by due considering the benefit of all riparian states based on the principles of equitable utilization of the Nile waters.
He said that taking the issue to the African Union is good idea and taking the issue to other country is not acceptable. It is easy to deal with the issues for Africans as they are near for the issues and they better now the issues than others. The current hydrological situation in the region have made it conducive to fill the dam. On the other hand at this time the Aswan dam is filled highly, the source of White Nile is also full at this rainy time. By considering this filling of the dam at this time is appropriate, he opined.
As international rule stated, Ethiopia has done what is expected from the country by keeping the national interest of the country. The main point Ethiopia has to do is that benefiting from the resource without causing significant harm, he noted.
The Ethiopian Herald July 25, 2020
BY HAILE DEMEKE
