Presidents of Ethiopia, Kenya Discuss GERD, Bilateral Issues

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ENA,March 12/2020 President Sahlework Zewdie has briefed today President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya on the progress of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and held talks on bilateral and regional issues, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

During the occasion, President Sahlework briefed President Kenyatta on the GERD project and the trilateral negotiations with Sudan and Egypt, which is aimed at reaching an agreement on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD.

She underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to continue working with all Nile Basin countries and to ensure that only treaties that are properly entered into by the countries will apply to the basin.

President Kenyatta on his part said Africa should sustainably utilize its natural resources to address the needs of its increasing populations. He emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable and reasonable utilization of natural resources.

Accordingly, the two leaders agreed on the importance of reaching a resolution in the spirit of African solutions to African problems and concurred on the need for the African Union to support the countries reach a win-win outcome.

On bilateral issues, the two leaders re-affirmed their commitment to deepen and enhance bilateral cooperation through the existing mechanisms, including the High-Level Commission and the Joint Border Commissioners/ Administrators Commission.

They directed that these commissions should meet on a regular and predictable basis in order to create and sustain the requisite momentum for enhanced economic, political, and security cooperation between the two sister countries.

The leaders noted with concern the grave threat to the food security of the two countries and the region arising from the invasion by desert locusts. They agreed to work together at bilateral and regional levels, including through IGAD to urgently and comprehensively address this menace to the livelihood of the people of the two countries and the region.

The two presidents also lauded the ongoing efforts to revitalize IGAD under the leadership of  Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan and IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.

They pledged full support and commitment to making IGAD revitalization successful in order to create an organization that is better positioned to respond to and spearhead the economic and security aspirations of the region.

Ethiopian News Agency
2023