Reaching a legal binding agreement on GERD before 2nd round of dam filling is a must: Egypt’s FM

CAIRO – 14 February 2021: Reaching a binding legal agreement on the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (EGRD) before implementing the second stage of filling the dam reservoir is a must, said Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry over a phone call he received from Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Olavi Haavisto on Sunday.

 

Both ministers tackled the latest developments in the Horn of Africa, especially developments related to the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez in a statement.

 

Egyptian Minister affirmed that Egypt had voiced its desire for the success of the African Union efforts in managing the Renaissance Dam file, but the negotiations did not produce anything tangible nor the desired results, Hafez said.

 

However, Shoukry said that Egypt is looking forward to the resumption of negotiations with Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and current president of the African Union.

 

Shoukry stressed that there is a need to re-launching a serious negotiation process, taking into account the interests of the three countries.

 

“Egypt has expressed its political will to reach a fair and balanced agreement that achieves Ethiopia's goals Development, and at the same time preserves Egypt's rights and ensures the two downstream countries from the dangers and damages of this dam,” Hafez continued.