Egyptian Presidency just posted that US President Donald Trump has assured President Abdel Fattah El Sisi that Washington will continue to push for reaching a final settlement and inking a deal between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, over the issue of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The remarks came during a phone call between both leaders and as Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, Irrigation minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aty, have just been to the states, accompanying technical delegation, to sign the finally-reached agreement over GERD.
While Egypt has signed with first letters the agreement, Ethiopia and Sudan refrain later from signing, citing political reasons. Ethiopia has apologized for not attending these meetings, on the pretext that it needs more time for consultations with concerned parties, and stakeholders inside Addis Ababa ahead of important general elections.
On his part, FM Shoukry said that Ethiopia's ownership of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) does not give it the right to violate legal accords signed willingly, days after the collapse of months-long Washington-mediated talks to resolve the GERD crisis.
In an exclusive interview with state TV, Shoukry said Ethiopia's ownership of the GERD does not give it the right to unilaterally control the Nile, which he described as the “lifeblood of Egypt since the dawn of time.”
"Addis Ababa should acknowledge that the Nile is a river that passes through several countries with rights and interests," Shoukry said.
Months ago, the Untied States as well as the World Bank have started its mediation role trying to broker a deal between the three countries over the years-old dispute.
Since 2001, Ethiopia has been building the Renaissance Dam at a cost of $6 billion on the Blue Nile, the main branch of the Nile. The dam raises the concerns of Sudan and Egypt in terms of influencing their supply of Nile water.
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