Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli was briefed Thursday about the results of the latest round of talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that was held in Kinshasa, Congo and the progress in projects being carried out to make optimal use of the country’s water resources.
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel Aaty told the premier that no progress was achieved and no agreement was reached after the Kinshasa round of negotiations, adding that Ethiopia refused the various proposals and alternatives submitted by the two downstream countries, which aim to re-launch the negotiation process, in an effort to reach solutions to controversial technical and legal issues.
Minister Abdel Aaty told the PM that the Egyptian and Sudnese sides showed maximum flexibility during the talks, reflecting serious desire to reach an agreement. He noted that Egypt participated in the talks in order to launch negotiations under the auspices of the Democratic Republic of Congo and according to a specific timetable to reaching a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement on GERD.
However, the Ethiopian side has stubbornly refused to return to negotiations, which is a hindering position and will complicate the Dam crisis and increase the tension in the region, Abdel Aaty told Dr Madbouli.
The prime minister also followed up on the progress achieved in the implementation of major national projects, which come as part of the ministry’s plan to achieve optimal utilisation of water resources and their rational use in such a way that contributes to maximising their returns
