Ethiopia will use its Grand Millennium Dam to generate electricity, the country’s foreign minister said at a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Monday in the capital of Addis Ababa.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said has he met with Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia three times over the past five months, and that the two countries have set up a committee comprising experts from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, along with four experts from other countries, to look into concerns about the dam. The committee has already met three times and will be consulted every six months, Amr said.
Amr went on to say that the private sector in both countries has helped to improve their relations. He said dozens of Egyptian factories will open soon in two industrial zones in Ethiopia.
“We are confident that our work is going in the right direction,” Amr said, adding that both sides have signed an agreement to continue political consultations.
Desalegn also voiced optimism about the future of Egyptian–Ethiopian relations.
“Egypt and Ethiopia have long-standing civilizations, and our fresh ties will achieve a faster renaissance for us because we have a lot in common,” he said. “Besides the Nile, we can have trade and investment ties, and we can exchange experience.”
Amr said an Egyptian delegation visited Ethiopia after the 25 January revolution, and that Egypt will soon receive a similar one from Ethiopia. He said this shows that Egypt respects all agreements signed with Ethiopia, which are not only legally binding, but also beneficial.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
