Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia Reach Agreement on GERD

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have renewed their joint commitment to reach a "comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable agreement" regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

This came in a joint statement issued by US Department of the Treasury, following the tripartite meeting held in Washington D.C. under the US sponsorship, in the presence of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and the World Bank Boss David Malpass.

Moreover, they have agreed on launching a clear process to fulfill that commitment in accordance with the 2015 declaration of principles.

The ministers asserted their agreement to hold four technical government meetings at the level of water ministers.

“The World Bank and the United States (US) would support and attend the meetings as observers,” the statement read.

In addition, the ministers also agreed to "work towards the completion of the agreement by 15 January 2020" and would attend two meetings in Washington in December and January "to assess and support progress."

"If no agreement is reached by 15 January 2020, the foreign ministers agree to refer to Article 10 of the 2015 Declaration of Principles," the joint statement said.

The ministers reaffirmed, "The importance of the Nile for the development of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan peoples."

It is worthy to note that, US President Donald Trump held on Wednesday a meeting with Egyptian, Ethiopian, and Sudanese Foreign Ministers “to help solve long running dispute on the GERD”.

Following their meeting, Trump tweeted, “Just had a meeting with top representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to help solve their long running dispute on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one of the largest in the world, currently being built.

“The meeting went well and discussions will continue during the day!”

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