BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Following the failure of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, Ethiopia, and the downstream nations are not on good terms.
As the downstream nations do their utmost to take advantage of the Nile River as they wish, and do not want Ethiopia to utilize its own resources, the sought after goal has not been attained yet as one would expect.
Since the laying of the cornerstone for the construction of the GERD, the three nations have been holding tripartite meetings at various times. However, the three nations could not reach into an agreement on the basis of the stubbornness and selfish interest of the two nations.
Notwithstanding the fact that Ethiopia spares no effort to resolve the predicament in an orderly fashion under the auspices of the AU-led tripartite negotiation, the two nations kept on turning a blind eye and degrading the Institute. As the institute gives prominence to the existing reality on the ground, and does not help them pursue their selfish interest, the downstream nations have been getting off the track over and over again.
Ethiopia’s doors are open for peace in view of the fact that the country would like to resolve problems related to the GERD through round table discussion. As the two nations do hate to death the catch phrase African solutions to African problems, they do not attach importance to AU-led tripartite negotiation on the GERD.
Contrary to all expectations, the two nations do not want the GERD to see the day of light. It is no hyperbole to say rather than endeavoring to get to the bottom of the problem through dialogue and creating a win-win solution, Egypt and Sudan are doing their most to internationalize the matter trying to take the matter to the UNSC fulfill its interest by destabilizing Ethiopia.
As things stand at present, following Ethiopia’s stance to fill the second phase of the GERD, the two nations have been fanning the flames of war time after time. Likewise, the two countries, Sudan and Egypt have been calling the international community to urge Ethiopia to sign a binding agreement.
Sudan and Egypt does not want Ethiopia to move forward with the filling of the dam, they make an effort to perplex the international community as if the Ethiopia’s move can threaten regional peace and security.
However, Ethiopia has been unflinching and is determined to fill the second phase of the GERD; the downstream nations have been fanning the flames of war over and over again. And, Ethiopia suggested meeting of Bureau of the Assembly of the AU to end impasse over GERD talks.
Ethiopia says the way forward on the GERD negotiations is to request the Chairperson of the African Union, President Felix Tshisekedi to call the meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the Sudan Mr. Abdalla Hamdok.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in response to the letter of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok dated 13, April 2021, stated that assuming the negotiation process as a failure is not right because we have seen some tangible results including the signing of the Declaration of Principles (DoP) and the establishment of the National Independent Scientific Research Group (NISRG) and its work in relation to stage based filling schedule.
The letter also cites the Kinshasa meeting, the understanding reached on the resumption of the stalled AU led trilateral negotiation, the agreement reached on the continued and enhanced role of the observers, namely EU, South Africa, and United States, and the need for the current AU Chairperson to use resources at his disposal for the effective discharge of his facilitation role.
Acknowledging the legal and technical issues that need to be tackled for a win-win outcome, the letter also appreciates the AU-led process for providing the opportunity to the tripartite to deal with the most pressing issues in spite of the interruption nine times.
“If parties negotiate in good faith results are within our reach,” says the letter, and “Ethiopia still believes that the best way forward is to continue the trilateral negotiation under the AU-led process to reach a win-win outcome.”
Ethiopia submitted its positions to the UN Security Council on the AU-led tripartite negotiation on the GERD. In the letter, Ethiopia called upon members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urge Egypt and Sudan to return to the tripartite negotiations on the first filling and annual operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and respect the AU-led process.
In a letter addressed to the current President of the UNSC on 16 April 2021, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen recalled the AU-led process has enjoyed the full support of the UN Security Council on the basis of the principles of complementarity and in the spirit of finding African solutions to African problems.
However, Egypt and Sudan are not negotiating in good faith and are not ready to make the necessary concessions to reach a win-win outcome, he said.
He further stated that the two countries chose to “scuttling” the negotiation and “internationalizing” the issue to exert undue pressure on Ethiopia.
The letter affirmed Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment and trust over the AU-led tripartite negotiation and expressed the country’s gratitude for the genuine efforts of South Africa and now the Democratic Republic Congo to address the matter in the spirit of African solutions for African problems.
The letter also recalled Ethiopia’s initiative on data exchange before the commencement of the second filling of the dam in the upcoming rainy season, which the two downstream countries declined.
The insistence by the two countries to maintain the unjust status quo and foreclose Ethiopia’s water use upstream of the GERD under the pretext of “concluding a binding comprehensive agreement” is unacceptable, said the letter.
The letter also underlined Ethiopia’s firm commitment to the Declaration of Principle (DoP) that was signed by the leaders of the three countries and noted that Egypt and Sudan are reneging their commitment that they have entered under the DoP.
In concluding, the letter declared that “Any attempt to pressure Ethiopia” and sideline the AU-led process will “further undermine trust and confidence among the three countries”.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia last week on Thursday delivered an opening speech to an online discussion on GERD that was hosted by the Ethiopian Embassy in London and organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia in collaboration with various Ethiopian Missions in Europe.
He emphasized that neither politicization nor sabotage should guide policies over the Nile but promoting cooperation, understanding, and integration should be the guiding spirit.
The Ethiopian Herald 23 April 2021
