Egypt welcomed a statement issued by the UN Security Council on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute that encouraged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to resume negotiations, under the President of the African Union to finalize a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the dam.
The statement also encouraged observers who had previously participated in negotiatory meetings held under the auspices of the AU, and any other observers agreed on by the three countries, to continue actively supporting the negotiation process.
The Security Council’s statement comes to affirm the special importance it places towards the GERD and its keenness to contain any negative repercussions and maintain international peace and security, Egypt confirmed.
Egypt added that the Security Council’s presidential statement on the GERD, in light of its mandatory nature, represents an important impetus for efforts made to push forward negotiations under the AU auspices, which requires Ethiopia to engage seriously in negotiations to reach a binding legal agreement on the rules for filling and operation.
Negotiations over the dam between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have stalled for years, with the three parties ultimately failing to reach any agreements.
Egypt and Sudan fear possible blows to water facilities, agricultural land, and overall availability of Nile water.
The two countries presented the GERD issue at a UN Security Council hearing in July in hopes of bringing more international players into the negotiation process.
Following the hearing, the Security Council issued a statement encouraging the three countries to resume negotiations under the auspices of the African Union, and to reach an agreement within a set amount of time. It also warned each country against unilateral measures.
