Gov’t of Ethiopia is committed to strengthening its support to Nile Basin Initiatives: Amb.

Addis Ababa, May 18, 2023 (FBC) – Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of Uganda, Etsegenet Bezabih, met and discussed with the Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat, Sylvester Anthony Matemu, in Entebbe, Uganada.

During the meeting they discussed accomplishments at the Nile Basin Initiative as well as potential areas of future cooperation.

On the occasion Ambassador Etsegenet said, the Ethiopian Gov’t recognizes the Nile Basin Initiative and the executive director’s significant contribution in promoting cooperation in the Nile Basin Initiative based on fair and equitable use and partnership of common water resources.

She said that the Gov’t of Ethiopia is committed to strengthening its support in the future.

Regarding the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) the ambassador said that upon completion, the dam will play a vital role in fostering regional economic integration.

According to Ambassador Etsegenet, the dam’s construction is going very well, and two turbines are now generating electricity.

GERD is a development project and Ethiopians aspire to see the dam generating electricity and meet their basic energy demands, Ambassador Etsegenet said, stressing that the dam will be a significant input in changing the lives of women who toiled collecting firewood.

She also stated that Ethiopia rejects the Arab League statement on GERD, that “African solutions for African problems” must govern the dam’s file, and that the African Union must lead the tripartite negotiations.

The Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat, Sylvester Anthony has welcomed the Ambassador and emphasized that the visit of Ambassadors from all Nile Basin Initiatives member countries to the office reinforces and solidifies the office.

The visit of Ambassador Etsegenet is timely because it coincided with the review of their office’s mid-term performance evaluation, he said.

He lauded Ethiopia for its strong support for Nile Basin Initiatives and for being the first of the four members to sign the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) and pointed out that ratification of the CFA is expected to boost cooperation among the member countries.

The two sides also discussed the current challenges of Nile Basin Initiatives and possible solutions incorporating areas for further cooperation.

The current funding status of the member countries and issues related to external donors were among the other things discussed.