The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that delegations from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan concluded the first round of tripartite negotiations in Cairo regarding the first filling and annual operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
“The delegations agreed that Ethiopia would host the next round of negotiations in September in Addis Ababa,” the statement added.
The negotiations aim to reach an agreement on the rules for filling and operating the GERD, according to a statement issued by Egypt and Ethiopia following the Cairo round of negotiations.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry stated that the two parties exchanged views on reaching a win-win solution.
It confirmed that Ethiopia will strive to conclude tripartite negotiations on the basis of the principle of fair and reasonable use of water, while ensuring its own share of the Nile water.
The head of the Ethiopian negotiating team, Seleshi Bekele, said at the beginning of negotiations that the talks will enhance cooperation between the three countries.
He noted the enormous benefits that the three countries will reap from the GERD.
Bekele affirmed that Ethiopia will continue to uphold its position on the principle of fair and reasonable utilization and will continue to work for an amicable outcome of the negotiations.
The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Mohamed Ghanem, stated that the negotiation round that ended in Cairo did not witness any tangible change in Ethiopia’s position.
“Egypt continues its unremitting efforts to reach, at the earliest opportunity, a binding legal agreement regarding the rules for filling and operating the Renaissance Dam in a manner that takes into account Egyptian interests by preserving its water security and benefiting all three countries,” he explained.
This requires that all negotiating parties adopt a comprehensive vision that combines the protection of national interests and benefits for all parties, he said, in a way that will reflect positively on the upcoming negotiation rounds
