Another new round of negotiations has been started between the three countries of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan in Cairo concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The meeting came about as a result of the low expectations on attaining positive results from the other rounds of negotiations that were held previously regarding the matter by the three states.
A statement issued from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in Egypt, this meeting follows up on the previous talks that that were held in the cities of Addis Ababa and Cairo over the past couple of months.
Also read: $4.6 Billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Final Filling Complete
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Negotiations Objectives
These talks by the three countries are aimed at accelerating the process of reaching an agreement on drafting the rules for filling and the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Observers informed Asharq al-Aswat that the issue concerning the dam has gotten quite complex following failed round of talks that were held in August and September after the fourth filling of the GERD reservoir.
Ethiopia encountered criticism by the foreign Ministry of Egypt and accused Addis Ababa of not observing the interests and rights of Sudan and Egypt, and also their water security as guaranteed by the rules of international law. According to Abass Saraky, a professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, stated that the ongoing negotiations about GERD were not to discuss the issues that had already happened. The negotiations are going to be about the future measures that will be put in place. The ministerial meeting in place aims to come up it and set particular rules for the final filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and how it shall be operated more so during the period of drought when the amount of rainfall is usually low.
Egypt still holds on to the aim of reaching a binding agreement that is going to enable the guarantee of the rights and interests of the three countries.
