FM: GERD Final Agreement to Be Signed before February Elapses

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry announced that the final agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would be signed before the end of February.

Rounds of the Renaissance Dam negotiations among the Foreign and Irrigation Ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, concluded in Washington. These negotiations were held under the auspices of US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin and in the presence of World Bank representatives.

In a statement issued today, Friday, the Egyptian foreign Ministry announced that the negotiation addressed the elements of the Renaissance Dam Filling and Operation Agreement, which include filling the dam in stages and according to specific procedures to deal with droughts, protracted droughts and scarce years during filling the dam.

The negotiations also focused on the coordination mechanism among the three countries to follow up the implementation of the agreement of filling and operating the Dam, and items that specify technical data and information that will be circulated to verify the implementation of the agreement, in addition to the provisions related to the safety of the dam and dealing with emergency situations, as well as a binding mechanism to resolve any disputes.

The Foreign Ministry statement added that the American side announced that it will participate with the World Bank in finalizing the agreement and presenting it to the three countries within the next few days, to sign it before the end of February.

The Foreign Ministry also expressed its deep appreciation for the role played by the US administration, especially the US Treasury Secretary, and the great attention paid by President Donald Trump, to reach a comprehensive agreement that meets the interests of the three countries and establishes cooperation relations.

“Egypt appreciates the role played by the World Bank in supporting these negotiations,” the statement added.