Chief Negotiator says Egypt’s position on utilization of River Abay unfair
Addis Ababa, December 20, 2023 (FBC) – Head of the Ethiopian Negotiating Team, Ambassador Seleshi Bekele (PhD) stated that Egypt has maintained inequitable and unfair position regarding the utilization of the River Abay.
Ambassador Seleshi Bekele briefed local and international media based in Addis Ababa on the 4th round of trilateral negotiation between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The 4th round trilateral negotiation was concluded yesterday without agreement as Egypt focused on the colonial era water treaty that does not apply to Ethiopia regarding the utilization of the Abay River and the GERD, Ambassador Seleshi noted.
According to Ambassador Seleshi, during the 4th round negotiation held in Addis Ababa, a number of improvements were made in light of interests of the countries.
He reiterated that Ethiopia is committed to addressing outstanding issues and reaching an amicable solution to the use of the Nile water resources guided by the principle of equitable and reasonable use without causing a significant harm to downstream countries.
However, he said, Egypt insisted to protect the unacceptable colonial-era agreements, while Ethiopia maintained its stance of accommodating the interests of all the riparian countries that would help bring cooperation and common prosperity to the region.
According to the ambassador, the current status of the construction of the overall project has reached 94 percent, while the concrete construction is set to be finalized by the upcoming June.
The ambassador pointed out that out of the 16 articles aim to proceed with the trilateral negotiation, article 6 which refers to drought and water share remains the center of the disparity.