Ethiopian foreign ministry asserts Ethiopia’s commitment to the technical course to continue the dam’s studies
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met Saturday with his Ethiopian counterpart Workineh Gebeyehu, on the margin of meetings of the executive council of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Abou Zaid.
The two sides discussed bilateral relations, the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, and developments of the Renaissance Dam and the technical committee which follows the studies of the Dam’s impacts on the downstream countries. Also, they agreed to the importance of beginning preparations for the high common committee between the two countries at the presidential level and coordinating with Sudan about the optimum way for the trilateral investment fund to start working on implementing projects in favour of the three countries, the statement read.
Regarding the Renaissance Dam, Shoukry asserted to his Ethiopian counterpart Egypt’s high interest in ending the technical course of the Dam’s impacts on Egypt and facilitating the process of ending these studies on time.
Shoukry stressed that Egypt is the main part that will be affected by building and operating the dam if not taking the Egyptian concerns into consideration. Also, he renewed Egypt’s demand for an immediate meeting of the trilateral technical committee between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia on the ministerial level to provide the necessary guidelines for the technical committee to take the right decision towards the initial report, which was applied by the consulting firm, to ensure achieving progress in preparing studies on the agreed time.
According to the statement, the discussion between the two foreign ministers was clear, and the Ethiopian minister asserted his country’s commitment to cooperation with Egypt to continue the technical course and ending the studies on time, as well as Ethiopia’s commitment to the principles declaration.
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Egypt would suffer most if Ethiopian Dam concerns are not met, Shoukry tells Gebeyehu
With dates slipping for the completion of technical studies on the impact of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on downstream countries, Egypt is expressing concern
Ahram Online , Saturday 1 Jul 2017
Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry (L) shakes hands with his Ethiopian counterpart Workineh Gebeyehu (R) during the sidelines of African Union preparatory meetings (Photo Courtesy of Egypt’s foreign ministry on Facebook)
Cairo is the main party that could be affected by the construction of Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) if Egypt’s concerns are not taken into consideration, Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry told his Ethiopian counterpart, Workneh Gebeyehu, Saturday on the sidelines of African Union preparatory meetings.
In an official statement by Egypt’s foreign ministry, spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said Shoukry reiterated to Gebeyehu a request by Egypt’s water and irrigation minister to his Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts on holding an urgent meeting of the tripartite committee to follow up on an initial report delivered by foreign consultancy firms, that the committee did not settle on till now.
Earlier in June, Egypt said it was still discussing with Ethiopia a report issued by two firms, Arterlia and BRL, tasked with assessing the impact of GERD on downstream countries, with talks being held since April.
“The request to ensure a move forward with studies and preparations within the agreed timeframe,” the statement read, with Shoukry calling on his Ethiopian counterpart to respond to the Egyptian demand promptly.
The studies by the French firms, expected to take 11 months from their start date in late 2016, will include the managing of water and hydroelectric resources as well as an assessment of the cross-border environmental, social and economic impact of the mega project.
Shoukry stressed that March 2015’s declaration of principles signed between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia affirms clearly the necessity of committing to the outcomes of studies on the possible effects of the dam on downstream countries.
“A loss of more time without the conducting of such studies at their specified dates would put the three countries in front of major challenges,” the statement added, with Abu Zeid saying that Shoukry inferred that political intervention would become necessary to put things in order and ensure the completion of ongoing cooperation.
From his side, Gebeheyu affirmed his country’s commitment to cooperation with Egypt to complete the tripartite technical path and finalise studies on time, as well as Addis Ababa’s commitment to the 2015 declaration of principles.
Cairo has expressed concerns that the construction of the dam, which is more than half-way complete, could negatively affect Egypt’s share of Nile water.
Addis Ababa, however, has maintained that the dam project, which Ethiopia says is vital for generating electricity, will not harm downstream countries, with Gebeyehu assuring Egyptians in April during a first-time Cairo visit that Ethiopia will never harm the Egyptian people and their interests.