Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Addis Ababa confirmed on Wednesday that it is ready to open talks with Cairo on its Renaissance Dam project, following news that Egypt has formed a special legal committee to look at the possibility of securing international arbitration over the issue of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam.
Talks between Ethiopia and Egypt broke down in January amid technical differences of opinion over the affect that the dam will have on Egypt’s share of Nile waters. Cairo claims that the construction of what will be Africa’s largest dam will have a significant effect on the flow of the Nile River, although Addis Ababa says that such fears are over-exaggerated.
Ethiopian Water Minister Alemayehu Tegenu said on Wednesday that the Addis Ababa government had “exerted utmost efforts to build trust among all riparian countries,” adding that “Egypt has continued to engage in negative campaigning against the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
Speaking at a ceremony held to mark three years since construction of the dam started, Tegenu criticized Cairo’s attempts to politicize the action of a panel of experts tasked with studying the dam’s potential impact on downstream states.
“Egypt is determined to delay the tripartite engagement by withdrawing from the Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt forum,” he said, adding: “We urge Egypt to re-join the engagement and work for the benefits of our countries. “
Addis Ababa’s call for Egypt to re-engage with the talks comes following news that Cairo has formed a high-level ministerial committee—including three international law experts—to determine Egypt’s legal rights to Nile waters and the possibility of securing international arbitration.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Monday confirmed that Cairo’s stance towards the controversial dam project remains unchanged. Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty issued a statement saying that “Egypt’s stance towards the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is clear and there is no room at all to waive or risk endangering Egypt, because the issue is considered a national security one.”
Abdelatty added that Cairo has a plan to tackle the crisis, saying it is “gradually being implemented.” That plan covers the political, legal and technical aspects of the dam, he said, adding that it aims to push for “serious negotiations” to guarantee the interests of all riparian states.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy spoke with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton about the Egyptian–Ethiopian dispute before the start of the EU–Africa summit in Brussels on Tuesday. The summit began on Wednesday, with Fahmy expected to discuss the dam project with his Ethiopian counterpart, Tedros Adhanom, during the two-day conference.
Ethiopia has every right to develop it’s own resources. Egypt you are like our brothers we will never cause undue harm on you. God bless Ethiopia and Egypt together as One. 🙂
Hey everybody . It is the question of alive ! Egyptian should think as humanbeing . What you should really know is we Ethiopians want live , we want survive , we want exist by doing every thing we deserved
If not the whole world know us very well what we can do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that Ethiopia works for infrastructure development networking of the East African Nation. The Egyptian politicians need to come on ridiculous of the Nile river resources. The resources is plenty enough to the African nation if we work for sustainable uses and conservation of the River basin ecosystem
Egypt stand on Nile negotiation is equivalent to ” Let me eat , I don’t care about others ” , then who care about you!?. For me all the Egyptian politician stance boils down they are frustrated by the progress of Ethiopia in general not by the “risk” out of GERD dam. They clearly know the dam has no major significant effect on sudan and Egypt . However they feel that If Ethiopia develop , then all the centuries devil act of Egyptian leaders to undermine the country is will be sharply failing to no impact . The dog is barking while the camel is still walking… I guess it is your parents proverb but let me use yours , the only important proverb you could contribute to the upper riparian countries …
Good to discuss while working. No progress as usual b/s the discussion is with the arrogant Egypt. Is there any media who can tell Egypt that discussion is not imposition. You can’t impose your need on another sovereign country. what type of people are these: Me, Me, me, me and then me, me, me … again me, me, me… I don’t care about you: me, me, .. me me …
The Ethiopians have embraced the modern idea of equitable sharing of natural resource. As the late Prime Minister Melese Zenawi once said the issue of Abay(Nile) is not a zero sum game. A win win solution can be worked out by both Ethiopia and Egypt . But this mainly depends on one thing. Egypt should refrain from its old idea of arm twisting and back stabbing. May God bless Africa.
There is an old saying “If you can not beat them, join them”. so a piece of advise for Egyptian brothers, “Since you can not stop us, How about joining us”.
the nile water politics have changed,and changed for ever ,GRAND RENAISSANCE DAM is just only the beginning of all other dams in eastern AFRICA. Egypt share will equal its CONTRIBUTION {if any} into nile river system.
it’s AFRICANS rains,not EGYPTIANS.
Egypt they know 100% that the water flow will not reduced by this great dam. however, simply they don’t want to see developed
ethiopia in the horn of Africa! but we are in the right direction, no one can return us from this way! we have been tested a
lot by western for the past 10 years and we defeat them again and again by growing double digit economy! we will repeat
that always until they understand our enemies what is our goal !! god bless mama ethiopia! !
Egyptian stand on this issue pushes Ethiopia to be more adamant and to have unfriendly relation with Egypt. Let Egypt exhaust all its option till then we will keep duilding our dam. At the end of the day I know they do not have any legal option than talk to the country which is the source of Nile. At this point I am tired of advocating being friendly with Egypt politician but strength our muscle to tackle their sabotage in all direction.
You are right. But keep positive with egypt anyway while keeping building the dam. Our truth will win.
The dam that Ethiopia will happen no matter what. Some of these politicians need to wake up and think twice. You have the red sea and the Mediterranean sea and you should consider building desalination plants if the Nile water is not enough. How is it okay for Egypt to have the Aswan dam but they think Ethiopia can not use the water on its own land. Why Egypt’s politicians have been creating turmoil in Ethiopia in the past many years is now getting exposed. Egypt should be happy that another African state is developing but instead they would rather hold Ethiopia back. Egypt needs to focus on its own internal problems and leave Ethiopia alone once and for all. This dam is going to be built no matter what.
It is time for Egypt’s political elite to rethink their long held strategy of holding everybody else at bay in order to maintain monopoly over their use of the Nile water. This would come if and when they consider themselves as part of Africa and that the Egyptian History that they sell to the rest of the world is an African civilization and African history.
As to the Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, deep at heart they know very well it is not going to stop the flow of Nile. On the contrary it would give a steady flow throughout the year and control the yearly flood in Sudan and Egypt. But because of the stereotype they harbor towards black Africa, they think they can be the deciders as to who uses and who does not.
Do they teach their children about their past history? They tried to occupy Ethiopia twice in the 19th century and both times their army was decimated and I don’t think they would think war against Ethiopia.
Cooperation is the way out not war or negative campaign.
If they think war over Ethiopia and attack the Dam, it is okay. One boom over the Aswan and then CALAS!
Egypt has three lawyers and that will force Ethiopia to change her plans to build the big dam. Are we discussing about being delusional? or what. Is Egypt that powerful or the three lawyers are that powerful mind you over sovereign nations. This article is for internal political consumption not for Ethiopians or has nothing for us Ethiopians.
As an European, I see that Ethiopia is running a good stand. They will use the water for hydro power and Egypt will use the water for irrigation. It is benefiting both. Otherwise, I do not see a reason to see that Egypt is considering at its own property while it comes from Ethiopia. Please discuss and work together.
Txs dear this is what all ethiopian saying. Look every comments by ethiopians all are positive to egypt. I pray for egyptian polis thought same. If not no one will care for the dead fish except the fishermen.
That is what the rest of the world has been saying; that is what the some so called politician don’t want to understand.
All the Upstream countries need to use the water equitably. Those countries are both starving for surplus food production and luck of energy. Is Egypt still advising others to starve while it is solely consuming their common resources? Then you decide!
The aggressive and stubborn approach of Egypt is pushing Ethiopia to a more resistant stand. Egyptian leaders should wake up to the 21st century reality. They are claiming that they have information on every aspect of Nile, unfortunately that is not what they are demonstrating in their dealing with Ethiopia. If you have facts and data let us talk, stop bulling. The way I see it, it is more advantageous for Egypt to the round table negotiation before Ethiopia completely shut the door. One day the patience of Ethiopia will seize, it won’t continue forever like this…. then Egypt can not stop any unilateral decision of Ethiopia. We understand your house is in complete disarray and you need something to divert the attention of your problem…. but you can not guarantee when and how it will backfire.
The aggression behavior will never benefit Egypt! I think they are trying to cover up their internal political situation by bulling other peaceful and neighbor loving country Ethiopia. They also boasting that we are going to send commando and air strike; oh really. Isn’t it laughable? I think they are getting crazy.If they do that where in the world a fish can survive without water for more than a couple of minutes. I tell you what we Ethiopian love Egyptian brothers who are not lucky with their lying officials; they have to tell their people the truth that this DAM is a win win project. No one stop Ethiopia from completing this dam and eradicate poverty. God bless Ethiopia!!!!!
I would like to ask, if you look at the map of Egypt what will you see? Egypt is approximately 97.34% desert. Since Egypt is mainly desert and has little arable land, almost every city there is along the Nile. If even the damn in Ethiopia stopped the water flow to Egypt for just a couple of months, the land will instantly begin to dry up, as we have kept it fertile by using man made irrigation channels connecting to the Nile. Our Aswan dam that powers a great majority of Egypt would not be able to keep up due to huge lack of water, cutting power to many major cities. And as Egypt is more than a 1/3rd agriculture, that depends mainly on the Nile, the one main river in Egypt, that goes too. Our country has no problems with Ethiopia, actually we would love for Ethiopia to advance and have a better quality of life for their citizens and grow economically, they are all human beings like we are. Just not do it at the risk of their neighboring country going down, we have enough problems going on already. What would be the problem if Ethiopia built the dam at another river? Same power output, same growth, same everything except for the side effect of bringing down another country with which they have no problems with.
Dear all,
I think the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam( GERD) is a hydro electric power generating project, which will not deplete the water level of Nile. So, If we think rationally I don’t think it will affect the benefits of any downstream country. I believe also that Ethiopia has no intention of hurting any downstream country as she believes in equable, fair and justifiable utilization of the water resource.
For that matter I am conducting a research on the implication of the Ethiopian hydro-electric power dam under construction on Blue Nile (GERD). As you know the issue is becoming contentious among Ethiopia and Egyptian while it was supposed to be the source of cooperation. I am trying to collect public perception on the dam from both sides because I am conducting an academic research which should be neutral and purely academic. So, Kindly comment on how you perceive the construction of hydro electric power dam by Ethiopia on Blue Nile? And what negative impacts do you think the dam will have on the downstream countries (Sudan and Egypt)?
I believe that this paper will contribute to the efforts of both countries in working out the problem. I would like to thank you in advance for your comments
As our late PM Meles Zenawi would love to say: “Mengedun Cherq Yargilachihu”…which can roughly be translated as “Bon Voyage”.
They Eygpt should think of mutual benefits not trying to go around the bushes and look for trouble we are a Christian and Muslim Nation Loving and respecting each other trying to bring trouble to us will be up to no good so come to the table and Discuss with peace but don’t go around the world and say we are doing u harm .. Just I don’t remember the date I guess 1845-1873 at the battle of Gura I guess they earned our Respect we are no walk over we have History
I know egypt has full of intelectuals, but those today powered by arogant and standless few poleticians, barking at ethiopia GERD. by the way if need to tell, Ethiopia is the mother of egypt feeding egypt through her blood root(blue nile) while the mother ethiopia hungry. I need to say a word to egyptian people, erradicate your few mad politians who lacked 21 centuary mind set and cooprate with ethiopia in a win-win situation.
Wake-up Egyptian brothers the better way for you is to talk to your next door neighbor not to other countries they will never give you a solution for your claims unless you make it hard to get trust by the Ethiopians !!
NO agreement is far better than bad agreement. Why new negotiation? After all the dam is for hydropower, it does not consume the water. Why Ethiopian goveernment is not firm on this “core interest”? The Ethiopian actors are behaving like Egyptian spoks persons.
ETHIOPIA has every right to use its water resourses for hydropower and irrigation. We may luck the technical and financial resources that will develop through time. NO NEED TO RUSH! The water is orginated from Ethiopia and will remain their. Please do not talk rubish and creat legal precidence. This is the time to talk about sovereign right rather than no harm.
The dam is Roller Compacted Dam. How much profit are the Tigray elites benefiting from selling cement, undertaking various components of construction work, deploying equipment, etc in the name of their monopoly conglomerate named EFFORT? How much is the rest of the Ethiopian population bleeding in form of bond sell? Why are ordinary Ethiopians suffering so much not even being able to eat once a day?
Dear friend, Tulu. The EFFORT gets the money; you and I get the dam. That’s it.
No doubt we will realize it ! this is the basic question of nature after-all.
Selamaluku Egypt :- no need to negotiate about GRED it is already 32% complete-it is time to sign the agreement to secure your water.
selama
Egyptians minsters are trying to suppress their internal conflict, the so called ” Arab spring”, but they know that they can’t reverse the development of GERD. If they have still the colonial era thinking, we will show them who we are!.
It is a life or death to our motherland too. Living in 21st century ,even their colonizer wont support them. It is ” bado kereto”.
I went to Egypt (Sharm el Sheikh) last time and I had a fablous time. The Egyptians were very friendly and I was amazed by the level serive I received. I also noticed that the desert were turned in to a bread basket by using the river Nile. I have no issues with that. However, when I see Eyptian politicians complaining about the use of Nile to generate electricity makes me sick. The Ethiopian politicians are not even asking the river to be used for irrigation. I mean we have all the right to use the river to grow food. I can see the Egyptians grows all sort of crops, vegetables and fruits for export purposes while people in Ethiopia starving. Are they out of their mind? Get real!!! The time that Egypt cam influence the world financial institutions and politicians have gone, the time now is for the might of the Ethiopian people.
Please understand that the issue is not that the dam itself directly reduces water. Infact it may increase water coming out of Ethiopia. But mind you that Sudan has not been able to use its land along the Nile for large scale agriculture because of flooding and saltation. Now with the contraction of this dam Sudan will get regulated water flow and will no longer worry about flooding to its land when it rains heavy in Ethiopian highlands and will benefit coz of a large scale farming it will be able to do. Which in turn means the water reaching Egypt may be less (coz of sudans use of water, not directly coz of GERD) . So the issue is not the dam DIRECTLY, but what Sudan will be able to do with the regulated water flow it will get. Sudan has seen the benefit of such dams by way of the earlier Tekeze dam and Sudan is supportive of this dam for obvious reasons. So brothers, I think that is what the issue boils down to….
The more Egyptians are getting selfish on utilizing Nile and keep up on provoking Ethiopia, the more the Ethiopians unit and plan for “CONSUMPTIVE USE” of water all draining to Nile. Beside that it is worthy for Egyptians to rethink all about their word” WAR”. Somali attempted to attack Ethiopia and became failed state for more than decades. Dear Egyptians better to think in that way if u wana remain as country. Peaceful dialogue benefits all riparian countries, attempting to use force will make Egyptian people life in IRREVERSIBLE trouble to pass over to generation to generation.
Egypt is taking until now 55bn cubic and Sudan getting 18.5 bn cubic meter and Ethiopia gets nothing? the owner of the river, We Ethiopian says, If Egypt is trying to tell as no even to you our water our river THEN WE ARE ASKING TO GET AT LIST 50% OF OUR WATER!!!! Egypt have to find a way to convert the sea water to us able water like other countries do. Any way no one can depend the water for ever. Egypt and other country have to do something now to process the sea before it is too let, in the future sea is the only place to depend to get water.