Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has said that negotiations with Egypt over the Renaissance Dam will not be easy, expecting Egypt to offer difficult proposals.
In a speech on Monday at the Ethiopian Parliament, Desalegn said, “It is a new start. Ethiopia will follow on this. Negotiations will not be easy."
Desalegn also added that his country will continue working on the dam while keeping in mind the interests of the downstream countries.
Ties between Cairo and Addis Ababa deteriorated after Ethiopia started constructing the Renaissance Dam in 2011 on the Blue Nile stream.
Egypt fears the dam would affect its historic share of the Nile water.
Ethiopia, however, insists that the dam will not harm Egyptian interests.
After President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's election, Egypt said it would resume negotiations with Ethiopia.
Edited translation from Anadolu Agency
