Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia agree on executive steps of GERD talks: statement

CAIRO – 19 August 2020: Irrigation ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed on the executive steps of negotiations on the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a statement by the Egyptian side said, a month after Ethiopia’s prime minister congratulated Ethiopians on the completion of the first phase of the dam filling.

This comes as the three ministers have started a summit in the presence of a legal and a technical member from each country. The summit was also attended by observers and experts. This comes in a bid to reach an agreement on controversial points on GERD and to prepare a report that can be submitted to the president of South Africa on August 28, as his country chairs the African Union this year, the statement added.

The Egyptian ministers of Foreign affairs and Irrigation participated Sunday in a tripartite meeting than included Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resume the negotiations on GERD.

Egypt participated in Sunday’s meeting after being invited by South Africa. It was agreed to resume the negotiations on Tuesday.

The Egyptian part asserted the importance of reaching a binding agreement on the filling and operating of the Dam in order to protect the water rights of the three involved countries.

The Egyptian part pointed out that it is ready to resume the negotiations as per the outcomes of the AU mini-summit held on July 21st, reported a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, the Sudanese part requested postponing the negotiations for a week to have internal consultations in the light of the latest developments taking place between the three involved parts.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia affirmed that they will not sign on any agreement that would require passing specific shares for water from GERD to the downstream countries; Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dina Mufti said.

The Ethiopian announcement triggered Egyptian and Sudanese objection to the unilateral acts of Ethiopia on filling the reservoir of GERD without reaching an agreement with the downstream countries.