Ethiopia dispatches high-level delegation to Europe to brief its stance on GERD

Addis Ababa, March 13, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopia has started dispatching a high level delegation to different countries to brief them about its stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Yesterday, a delegation led by President Sahle-Work Zewde travelled to Nairobi and held discussion on GERD with Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Sahle-Work briefed President Kenyatta on the dam and the trilateral negotiations with Sudan and Egypt aimed at reaching an agreement on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD.

The President also underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to continue working with all Nile Basin countries and to ensure that only treaties that are properly entered into by the countries will apply to the basin.

President Uhuru Kenyatta underlined the need for Africa to sustainably utilize its natural resources to address the needs of its increasing populations.

The President also emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable and reasonable utilization of natural resources.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of reaching a resolution in the spirit of African solutions to African problems and concurred on the need for the African Union to support the countries reach a win-win outcome.

Another delegation led by former President Mulatu Teshome also headed to Europe yesterday to meet European Union (EU) top officials and Member States.

Mulatu will meet with EU President as well as leaders of France and other EU Member States to brief them on the latest development and Ethiopia’s stance about the project.

The country has also planned to send a high-level delegation to the United States of America and other countries for a similar mission.