Addis Ababa, May 18, 2020 (FBC) – Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy is briefing resident ambassadors of several countries in Addis Ababa on the current status of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister Dr. Engineer Sileshi Bekele, in the briefing, highlighted the negotiations held between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt concerning the construction process of the dam.
Dr. Engineer Sileshi Bekele explaining the reasons why the discussions brokered by the United States and the World Bank failed to address the dispute between the three Riparian countries.
The Minister told the ambassadors that GERD will not bring any significant harm to downstream countries.
Construction of GERD reached 73 percent, and Ethiopia is set to start filling it with water as of the upcoming July, 2020, the Minister briefed the ambassadors.
The role of US and World Bank failed when they transitioned from observer to negotiators.
The minister said Ethiopia has tallied 153 documents concerning the dam adding that the country tried to create transparency concerning its stand on the construction process in discussions she had with Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopia is following principles of equitable utilization of natural resource based on mutual cooperation, Engineer Sileshi noted, adding the dam has not a negative impact on downstream countries.
Dr. Engineer Sileshi explained the importance of GERD to Ethiopia, Eastern Africa and the continent Africa at large.
The briefing platform is mainly focused on creating clarity and correcting misinformation concerning the construction of GERD, and seeking African Solution to African Problems, according to Dr. Engineer Sileshi.
Abassasrors of several countries who took part in the briefing session expressed appreciation to the procedures Ethiopia is following with regard to the dam construction process.
Expressing doubts on the way Egypt is following, the ambassadors recommended that negotiation is the only option to address the dispute between the riparian countries.
The ambassadors underlines that it it the mandate of African Union and member countries to bring a solution to the dispute describing the issue as an African problems seeking continental response.