Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, has met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Workneh Gebeyehu, in Addis Ababa, on ways of enhancing joint cooperation and the outcome of a recent technical committee meeting on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmed Zeid, at the meeting, Mr. Shoukry expressed Egypt’s concern over changing the technical course of the dam negotiations. Mr. Zeid also explained that the failure on the part of the committee to reach an agreement on the report that was compiled by the consultancy firm impeded studies on the effect of the dam.
In his view, the two downstream countries should show more commitment in line with the time frame set by the Declaration of Principles which they signed.
The Egyptian foreign minister underlined the importance of water security for Egypt, noting that what is required is a commitment by the three countries to implement the Declaration of Principles.
For his part, the Ethiopian Minister asserted that his country was committed to the declaration and remained keen on rendering the talks successful in this direction.
Mr. Shoukry arrived in Addis Ababa on a visit that was aimed at breaking the logjam of the technical track of talks on the Ethiopian Dam.
The move falls in line with the Egyptian stance which is seeking to settle the issue within the framework of adherence to the Declaration of Principles and showing signs of goodwill and confidence-building measures.
