Ethiopia has firm stance to equitably utilize its water resources: FM Gedu

Addis Ababa, May 28, 2020 (FBC) – Foreign Affairs and Water, Irrigation and Electricity Ministry briefed political parties on the construction, filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and trilateral meetings held with Egypt and Sudan.

The briefing held on the forum organized by Joint Council of Ethiopian Political Parties and Office of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on GERD regarding role of political parties for successful completion of the dam.

Briefing the politicians, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu andargachew reiterated Ethiopia’s unwavering stance to equitably and reasonably utilize its water resources in line with accepted principles of ‘causing no significant harm’ as well as cooperation.

The negotiations have played their own role in lessening pressures stemmed from the Egyptians side to disrupt the construction of the dam.

Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, Engineer Seleshi Bekele, to his part, said the tripartite talks over the GERD were marred by the tendencies from Egypt’s representatives to rehash the so-called ‘historic rights’ to the water which could never be accepted either by Ethiopia or the other Nile River riparian states.

Ustaz Mohammed Al-Arusi, who is renowned for explaining Ethiopia’s stance over the GERD appearing in various Arabic media outlets, has also presented a speech before the admiring audience.

Representatives of various political parties also forwarded issues related to the national, regional, and continental level assets that would be created regarding the construction and operation of the dam.

Attendees of the forum constitute religious leaders, scholars, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity.

Political figures who took part in the consultative meeting representing their respective parties further vowed to back the construction of GERD pledging to purchase bond so as to financially support the dam.