A fresh round of ministerial-level negotiations regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) kicked off in Cairo on Monday, engaging delegations from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
This development follows two previous negotiation rounds held in Cairo and Addis Ababa over the past two months, based on a tripartite consensus to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD, subsequent to a meeting between the leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia on July 13 earlier this year.
The spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation noted that the last negotiation round didn’t yield significant progress. There was a noticeable Ethiopian backtrack on several agreements previously reached among the three countries, along with a continued refusal to consider any of the proposed middle-ground solutions or internationally agreed technical arrangements that would cater to Ethiopian interests concerning the GERD without infringing on the rights and interests of the downstream countries.
Reportedly, the Egyptian negotiation delegation continues to negotiate earnestly based on clear determinants. They aim to achieve a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD that would preserve Egypt’s national interests, safeguard its water security and water usages, while simultaneously catering to the interests of all three countries, including the declared interests of Ethiopia.
The ongoing negotiations in Cairo reflect a crucial and collective endeavor to overcome the longstanding impasse over the GERD, aiming for a resolution that balances the interests and concerns of all involved nations.
