Ethiopian statements about filling Renaissance Dam unacceptable: FM

CAIRO - 3 March 2020: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry described the recent Ethiopian statements regarding filling the Renaissance Damn as politically and legally unacceptable as well as surprising.

He explained during an interview with the Egyptian TV Program "9 O'clock PM" on Monday that Egypt hoped to use this agreement to consolidate relations with Ethiopia.

Ethiopia had announced that it would continue to build the Renaissance Dam and fill the reservoir, regardless of the interests of the other countries.

The Ethiopian announcement came in response to the American statement, which emphasized that the final trial and the filling of the Renaissance Dam's reservoir should not be carried out without reaching a joint agreement between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.

US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuch in had said previously that the US will remain engaged with the three countries, until an agreement is signed to end years of differences over the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Shoukry also said that Ethiopia's failure to attend the last US tour is a detriment to the negotiation process over the Renaissance Dam.

Commenting on the last Ethiopian statement, he said, "This agreement was signed by Ethiopia, and therefore it is legally bound by its provisions.Ethiopia's ownership of the dam does not allow it to renounce a legal obligation, nor will it allow Ethiopia to control the lifeline."

Shoukry added that the river crosses many countries and cannot be turned into a tangible property of a certain country, as this violates the international law.