After years of firm stance to stop Ethiopia from its plan of second round filling of the GERD, Egypt and Sudan have shown a different stance which seems a sudden change of position. Ethiopia has also resumed its long standing and strong position of filling the dam for the second round this summer and pursue until the successful completion of the project. Concerning the latest development around the project and Ethiopia’s stance, Ethiopian Press Agency had a stay with one of the long time negotiators of Ethiopia, Engineer Gedion Asfaw. Exceprts:
Egypt’s foreign minister has said the second round of filling of the GERD does not cause water shortages in Egypt. How is this viewed in terms of diplomacy?
These comments show
that they are getting closer to the truth. Egypt, in particular, is thousands
of miles away, and the meaning of the annual flow to Aswan remains unchanged.
However, the recent Rossaris Dam in Sudan is not an annual flow, but a change
in day and month flow.
The impact of the Renaissance Dam varies from country to country. Now that they have made that comment, they are moving to different parts of Africa in what appears to be a change of opinion. There they are making other statements that Egypt will be harmed and that the dam should not be filled without the consent of the regime.
Comments vary week after week, day by day, from month to month. It must be on the Ethiopian side to uphold the position; There is no room for complacency in the media. Ethiopia’s basic interests depend on the public interest and the country’s policy. No change in position or policy will be made based on what the two countries’ officials, experts, or others have to say. Therefore, it will follow the spirit of negotiation and principle.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister’s statement to the parliament was based on technical advice. They say we are prepared for the damage. This is a good position for me. It is good to be prepared. It is good that they have informed the international community that the dam has not been damaged. This is not something to be taken lightly, it is something that can be discussed in the next discussion. It also arises through negotiations.
Statements made by high-ranking government officials like him are not easy. Not as we do as experts, but because what the higher authorities say is meaningful and grounded, these issues will also be raised through negotiations.
The point is, what level is at stake? He is one of Egypt’s top officials and a key figure in the negotiations. So, they would only resort to this as the last option. What is said, especially at the leadership level, is also considered a policy and a national position in international practice. Anything that senior government officials say is considered a matter of national character and national policy. So it is very difficult to go back and oppose this and take another stand.
What impact will the second round of filling have on diplomacy?
We are planning to build a dam, especially for a major project such as the Renaissance. And the owner of the dam is Ethiopian Electric Power. It has a top management board. The ministry is monitoring it closely. Therefore, the process will not change as the project is very large and has a very large contract and a large amount of investment, as well as foreign consultants and contractors unless the circumstances change. This project will be managed per the signed contract.
Therefore, the first filling was done according to the timeline. After that, the work is done and the second filling is done according to the plan. This first go with the construction process and the construction sequence.
The dam has many parts. civil works, electromechanical, works; It includes metalwork, electricity, road works, labour camps, deforestation, and resettlement. In particular, the electromechanical and electrostatic work is very difficult and is being carried out by new contractors.
This is the second issue in the negotiation process. This is an agreement. In 2018, the three-member committee, which includes the three countries’ foreign affairs, water and security ministers, will have 15 water experts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. This filling process was agreed upon by the three countries. In the first round, 4.9 billion cubic meters of water will be filled, followed by 13.5 billion cubic meters, 10.5 billion cubic meters, and 10.4 billion cubic meters of water. This draft agreement is in the negotiation document between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
This means that the filling process by the experts, the governments of the three countries, which the government has appointed, is in the draft and agreed upon. The second filing, therefore, is known to all three countries and the same document states that if the rains are good in July, August and September, it will continue in September. As a result, the three countries agreed on a timetable for how to fill water. So it is going in line with the construction plan.
It is now baseless to say that there is no agreement between the two countries on the second round of water supply. Because an agreement has already been reached on these; Ethiopia is following suit. There are currently rumours that 20 million people will be affected by Sudan.
If so, why did we accept the experts’ report that 13.5 billion cubic meters of water will be filled in the second round? The reason is it is a document approved by the ministers and a draft agreement. The number to be filled is agreed upon by all three countries. All three countries have agreed on.
Therefore, what Egypt and Sudan talk about damage to be caused by the dam has no technical basis. It is also inappropriate for the two countries to take on the role of Africa. As it is known, the dam does not disturb the peace of the international community.
Because when things go to the United Nations, they are disturbing the peace. The two power turbines will be launched soon, either as of late August or later. Therefore, at any given time, you will have access to the water that you have received earlier, or below that. So the claim that it affects us has no technical basis.
What is the impact of the current conflict here and there on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam?
I feel that instability is a threat to all of us and we all need to stop working together. In any case, it is possible to withstand external forces only when there is internal strength and unity. Without internal strength and unity, it is very difficult to withstand various forms of opposition to Ethiopia. And while Ethiopia is working on other big projects such as the Renaissance Dam, the sign is that we are building other dams to expand this and other watersheds. Others will be less than that. It takes inner strength to do those things. And the instability inside us is very worrying.
The security of the Ethiopian people is a priority for every Ethiopian. Every Ethiopian has the right to life as enshrined in the constitution. If we cannot secure the life of every Ethiopian, it will be very difficult to do something else.
The first concern for all of us is to be able to ensure the safety of Ethiopians in different parts of the country. The reason is that safety comes first. First of all, one must have the hope of living. Because development is meaningful when a person has the hope of living.
The security of the Ethiopian people is a priority for every Ethiopian. Every Ethiopian has the right to life as enshrined in the constitution. If we cannot secure the life of every Ethiopian, it will be very difficult to do something else.
To cope with external pressures, you must first stabilize the interior and change the status quo. This is a personal opinion: After all, it is everyone’s opinion. We need to change the situation in Ethiopia. While development is a good start, I think we need to change the conditions that obscure human well-being and life expectancy. Otherwise, the development we are making will not make sense.
Some Scholars say the Grand Renaissance Dam Project is an Ethiopian Project; It is not appropriate to negotiate on this; Therefore, they say, it should not have been given a chance to negotiate from the beginning. What does the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say in this regard?
International law does not prohibit Ethiopia from using its resources. Not only Ethiopia but no law prohibits the development of any country. This is what we see with our own eyes. For example, we see development in Sudan. We also see the development in Egypt.
The dam that was built in Egypt about 50 or 60 years ago is bigger than we are. They have cultivated some four million acres [4 million ha] in Egypt. I am amazed that the international community has ignored and condemned the Nile as it tries to claim it as its own.
In Colorado, for example, Mexico and the United States share water. The United States, as a superpower, owns 95 percent and releases 5 to 10 percent to Mexico. If we go to Turkey and other countries, Ethiopia and the Nile are the only countries where you have no water. How could the international community not condemn this when everything is clear? It sounds like the big media around the world are just talking about hurting the Egyptian people.
So the situation is sad. It is immoral. Therefore, we should not allow this kind of approach; We must stand firm. The people must be able to exercise this right. Negotiators should not cross this big and red line. The realization of the right of the Ethiopian people to use the rivers of the present and future generations is a great goal and a great position. You need to take this with you. This unjust and unjust approach needs to be strongly explained to the international community and made to change its position. That is the way we should go.
There are more than 250 transboundary rivers in the world. What are the development projects and the negotiations between the partner countries?
Negotiations on transboundary rivers take a long time no matter where we go. Because the nations will have to fight hard to maintain their interests. All of this is happening in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and other parts of Africa. But their end is not war.The cry for war on the part of Egypt and Sudan can never be enforced by a ruling party. I think they should understand that this is a clear case.
There is no such thing as a right to water by force, war, or the destruction of human dams, except by coercion. It is not known anywhere. So I think they should refrain from such mobilization and such a position. A country has the right to defend itself against attacks on its resources. They should know this: No one has the morality to stand up for another while thirsting ones people. This is not the case in any other country.
And with this lot of diplomacy and media outcry, we are not going to be able to take away the rights of a country. It is in the interest of the three countries to see that we can work together for development and respect each other’s rights.
The electricity generated will benefit all three countries; Not only for them but when energy is connected and coordinated, the unwanted amount would be shared with the other. This is what we see in Europe. The power from one source goes to another when it is not needed. This approach also reduces energy costs. It also keeps it from getting cut.
There are circumstances in which one might benefit from the other. So it is important to work together, not to argue that you have no rights. This will not be supported by international law and will continue to be used by Ethiopia. Their argument over-irrigation and why Ethiopia is developing is a strange debate.
Our people died of starvation in the 1980s. But not one of the Egyptians or a Sudanese man died. They could store their dams. So they went through that terrible famine without anyone dying. It is amazing to see this dream come true. Sadly, But we will continue to develop. No force can stop this. Cooperation is good for all three countries.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald May 1/2021
