Pics: Ahmed meets with top officers to discuss ‘defense strategy’

CAIRO – 21 June 2020: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday said he discussed “new defense strategy” with general officers of the National Defense Force, few days after talks on Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) with Egypt and Sudan failed to reach any agreement.

Egypt blames the deadlock in the years-long negotiations on Ethiopia’s “intransigence”.

Together with general officers of the National Defense Force, we held fruitful discussions on the new defense strategy and institution building activities. pic.twitter.com/Lse34Og7Oo

— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) June 21, 2020

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said earlier that Egypt seeks making GERD a supporter to the Ethiopian economy, adding that Ethiopia, however, has refrained from singing an agreement.

Egypt on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to intervene in the GERD issue, a day after the Egyptian water resources minister said talks to resolve differences on filling and operating the dam were concluded, after failing to persuade Ethiopia to refer the issue to the prime ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan as a last chance to reach an agreement,

In an interview with Egypt’s ON E TV channel, Shoukry said the issue of the dam concern the lives of 150 million Egyptian and Sudanese citizens, noting that Egypt has shown good intentions in the GERD talks, but no positive results were reached in light of Ethiopia’s intransigence.

Shoukry said the UNSC is currently the body concerned with resolving the GERD issue, affirming that its decisions are binding. He noted that Egypt does not ask for any punitive measures against Ethiopia.

The foreign minister affirmed Egypt’s willingness to hold serious negotiations as the only solution to the crisis, away from any waste of time, and to avoid Ethiopia from taking unilateral measures.