Ethiopia says no to unilateral GERD talks with Egypt

Ethiopia said it would not negotiate about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) unless Sudan is included, as Egypt came up with a new proposal.
The Egyptian diplomatic chief met with his Ethiopian counterpart early this week to talk about economic cooperation and related agendas according to statements from officials of the two countries. In his address Sameh Shoukry, Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Egypt, said that he presented a proposal to facilitate negotiations on the GERD. “I have presented for my brother a different very simplified proposal,” he added.
“Egypt has recognized the importance of economic development to Ethiopia, but science should be the determining factor on how we manage this important issue,” Shoukry said.
An early November meeting of water ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in Cairo ended, without reaching an agreement on the “inception report” put forth by the international consultant, BRL hired by the three countries to study the impact of the dam.
Ethiopia stated that GERD would not have a significant impact on the downstream countries. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Ethiopia will never negotiate concerning the project unless Sudan is included. “This is an issue between three countries,” Workneh said.
During the latest meeting of the tripartite national technical committee, among the three countries, no agreement was reached concerning the initial study of international consultants.
The biggest ever hydro power project on the continent will generate 6,000MW.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is expected to visit Egypt in the coming months. The discussion between the two foreign ministers mainly focused on economic activity of Egyptian investors in Ethiopia.