Observers, concerned states hold meetings on GERD, discuss agreement to operate dam

CAIRO – 12 July 2020: Talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between observers and concerned countries have continued for the ninth day on Saturday, under the auspices of the African Union, to discuss an agreement to fill and operate the massive dam, read a statement by the Egyptian Water Resources Ministry.

During the meetings, representatives from each of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia met separately with observers and experts. The Egyptian delegation have discussed alternative proposals it has suggested during the meeting of the technical committee a day earlier.

The technical and legal committees responded to the comments and inquiries of the international observers, according to the statement.

The negotiations round on GERD started on July 3 and will conclude on July 12 so that the final report will be submitted to the African Union on July 13 by observers.

Spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources Mohamed al-Sebai stated in a phone-in that the US and EU observers will confer with the delegations of each of the three states – Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia – independently as well as technical committees. Later on, they will draft the report that will be submitted to South Africa, the current AU chair.

Egypt has firmly rejected Ethiopia’s suggestion on postponing reaching a settlement on the points of contention in the GERD negotiations, Sebaei said. He added that no agreement has been reached. He noted that Ethiopia’s obstinacy is still hindering the talks. "After seven days of negotiations, everything still the same," Sebai highlighted.

It is noted that Egypt and Sudan still didn’t review any of the dam’s safety studies, while Ethiopia announced in June it would begin filling the reservoir in July.