In a latest press release, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy has issued today on “the continuation of the tripartite negotiations on the GERD”,has expressed it’s dejection over Egypt that the later is trying to ruin the process with it’s regrettable stances and remarks while Ethiopia keeps trying to abridge stalemated negotiations on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
According to the statement,the tripartite negotiations have entered for the fourth day on Saturday and continuing today and tomorrow, June 14.
Ethiopia seats with Egypt and the Sudan to discuss and negotiate on the Guidelines and Rules for the first filling and annual operation for the GERD, the Ministry noted.
While such undertakings are proceeding, Ethiopia made it clear and stressed five major alerts or perhaps warnings the Egyptian side should consider and refrain from infringing the process.
“First, the ongoing negotiation is not on the allocation of the Blue Nile waters. Second, Ethiopia will be bound by the guidelines and rules for first filling and annual operation of the GERD that it will sign with the two downstream countries. Third, such a commitment will only be guided by the Declaration of Principles of March 2015 that stipulates relevant international principles that are adequate for the GERD project. Fourth, any attempt to confuse the international community or campaign to exert maximum pressure on Ethiopia to accept colonial based treaties that it is not a party to and foreclose its legitimate right of using Abbay/the Blue Nile camouflaged in the guidelines and rules on the first filling and annual operation is unacceptable. Fifth, Ethiopia stresses that it is a genuine negotiation based on good faith and transparency that will result in finalizing the process with a win-win outcome.”
Stressing on these issues, Ethiopia didn’t want to leave it unnoticed some of the arrogance Egyptian officials have expressed.
The ministry has denounced a press release by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt, issued on June 13, 2020. It called the statement “regrettable”, saying“despite the accusation of the Spokesperson that the ‘negotiations are faltering because of Ethiopia’, the truth is we have made progress and if the ongoing negotiation is to falter it is only because of Egypt’s obstinacy to maintain a colonial based water allocation agreement that denies Ethiopia and all the upstream countries their natural and legitimate rights.”
Sudan chairing the negotiations held over the video conference with the presence of observers, the three countries have discussed technical issues on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD. Based on the filling schedule of the GERD, the countries reached understanding on the first stage filling, volume of environmental flow, guidelines for first stage filling and the approach to drought management rules. The Countries also reached an understanding on dam safety rules, environmental and social impact assessment studies, and entry into force of the Guidelines and Rules.
Today, the three countries will exchange the Guidelines and rules incorporating the outcomes of the negotiation.
The negotiation will reconvene on Monday, June 15, 2020 Egypt taking over the chairmanship from Sudan.
