Talks with Ethiopia failed, Egypt ready to defend its interests
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The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announces that talks with Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have failed due to the country's disregard.
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The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. (AFP)
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that talks with Ethiopia regarding its Renaissance Dam (GERD) have collapsed.
"Egypt reserves its right, in accordance with international charters and accords, to defend its water and national security in case of any harm," the ministry stressed.
Moreover, the ministry said that it will closely monitor the process of filling and operating the dam and reserve the right to defend its water. The statement also revealed that "the meeting was unsuccessful due to Ethiopia's persistent refusal... to accept any of the technical or legal compromise solutions that would safeguard the interests of all three countries."
Furthermore, the Egyptian ministry explained that Ethiopia continues to take advantage of the negotiating period to build up a de facto situation to its advantage, disregarding the interests of Egypt and Sudan.
According to the statement, Ethiopia is attempting to reach a "final agreement with the two downstream states" entailing its "complete control" of the Nile River, regardless of international law.
The last four rounds of negotiations regarding the GERD were held after they were suspended for over two years, specifically since April 2021, after the African Union's initiative failed to bridge the differences between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The failed rounds of negotiations aimed to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the operational clauses of GERD.
Egypt, along with Sudan, insists on reaching a binding agreement with Ethiopia on the filling and operation of the dam, especially during dry periods, to ensure the continuity of the countries' respective shares of the Nile River's water flow.
In contrast, Ethiopia argues that the dam is essential for development purposes, particularly in terms of hydropower, claiming that it does not intend to harm any other party.
