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Source: United Nations – Reuters
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abi Ahmed announced to the United Nations on Friday that his country “does not intend” to harm Sudan and Egypt with the Renaissance dam project, which he is building on the Blue Nile, and has unleashed a intense conflict.
Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan failed to seal an agreement to operate the dam before Ethiopia began filling its reservoir in July. The countries returned to mediation led by the African Union.
My father said in a video statement that was previously recorded due to the Corona virus: “I would like to make it clear that we do not intend to harm these two countries.”
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning politician added: “We are sincere in our commitment to address the concerns of downstream countries and achieve a win-win outcome as part of a process currently being led by the African Union.”
Negotiations stalled earlier due to a request from Egypt and Sudan that any agreement be legally binding and include a mechanism for resolving disputes in the future.
Egypt stated that it depends on the Nile to provide more than 90% of its fresh water and fears that the dam will have a devastating impact on its economy.
My father told the United Nations that the project helps to preserve water resources “that would otherwise be wasted as a result of evaporation in downstream countries.”
And he continued: “What we are basically doing is meeting our electricity demands with one of the cleanest energy sources.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed concern about the project in his speech to the United Nations on Tuesday. He stressed that “the Nile River is not a monopoly of one party, and its waters for Egypt are necessary for survival without prejudice to the rights of the brothers.”
He stressed that “the negotiation period should not be extended indefinitely in an attempt to impose a fait accompli.”
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