PM reiterates Ethiopia’s commitment not to harm Nile Basin countries

Addis Ababa, July 15, 2023 (FBC) – In his Arabic language message issued on Saturday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia preserves its promise not to harm the Nile Basin countries, reiterating nation’s commitment to equitable use the River Nile.

The Premier stressed that honesty and fulfillment of promises are good and well-known characteristics of Ethiopians and the pillars of nation’s foreign policy; “And based on these values, we affirm that Ethiopia is a country that does not lose faith and never intends to harm its neighbors.”

“God has chosen the Land of Ethiopia to be the source of the Grand Nile River which is considered as a natural gift to the riparian countries,” the Premier said, reiterating that “Ethiopia will continue to share this great gift with its neighbors.”

The Nile River has been connecting downstream and upstream countries for thousands of years. As a lifeline embodied the strength of human relations between the peoples of the region since ancient times, “Ethiopia has been sharing the River Nile with the downstream countries in a spirit of trust,”

“Prophet Mohammed said to his followers: “Go to the land of Abyssinia which has a king who does not oppress anyone”; “and we keep this assertion alive through continued cooperation with the riparian countries,”

Our needs for development in the upstream and downstream countries are multiplying due to population growth, and this prompts Egypt and Ethiopia to work together to achieve their sustainable development goals.

“Our constant communication with leaders of the downstream countries is a real reflection of our desire to strengthen brotherly relations and cooperation with sisterly countries,” the Prime Minister noted.

“We commend the wise leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his relentless efforts in building and developing the Arab Republic of Egypt, and we believe that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will have great benefits for all.”

The efficient storage of the Nile water in the reservoir of the dam proves best guarantee for everyone during droughts that we may face in tough seasons, he said, adding “We express our commitment to cooperate in vital projects aimed at ensuring sustainable development for our peoples based on a win-win principle,”