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APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
10 September 2024 | 12:10
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Ethiopia has rejected Egypt’s recent allegations over the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as ‘unfounded’.
In its communication sent to the UN Security Council recently and signed by Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, minister of foreign affairs, Ethiopia reiterated its position that “the use of natural resources falls within the national jurisdiction of states” and that transboundary water disputes should be resolved through “bilateral and regional mechanisms.”
The letter seen by APA on Tuesday also informed the UN Security Council that Ethiopia had deposited the sixth instrument of ratification for the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) on the Nile River Basin on 14 August, 2024, officially bringing the CFA into force and establishing the Nile River Basin Commission.
Ethiopia described this as a “landmark development” for equitable Nile use and encouraged Egypt to “ratify the CFA and make positive contributions.”
This response follows a letter from Egypt to the United Nations Security Council in which the Egyptian Foreign Minister expressed the country’s “categorical rejection” of Ethiopia’s actions during the fifth phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Egypt argued that Ethiopia’s actions “violate the rules and principles of international law” and breach the Declaration of Principles (DOP) signed in 2015 by Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Ethiopia countered by rejecting Egypt’s accusations, stating that the letter contains a “litany of unfounded allegations.”
Cairo said it would be prepared to defend its natural share of water from the Nile if this was compromised by Ethiopia’s GERD dam.
Addis Ababa maintained that Egypt’s fears are unfounded.
Ethiopia has been building the GERD dam since 2011 with the sole aim of relieving the country’s perennial energy deficit and exporting electricity to its neighbours.
Threat of a possible airstrike on the dam by Egypt had prompted Ethiopia to acquire an air defence system from Russia and Israel and installed at the site.
Egypt has unsuccessfully sought to convince Israel not to sell its air defence system to Ethiopia.
MG/as/APA