FM Demeke Confers with US Special Envoy to Sudan, South Sudan

March 25/2021(ENA) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen received a high-level delegation led by the US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth.

The Deputy Prime Minister briefed the delegation on the tripartite negotiations of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and other related issues.

He said although Ethiopia contributes 86 percent of the water share of the Nile River, 60 percent of its citizens still live in darkness and Ethiopia aims to change this once the construction of the dam is concluded.

He affirmed that it is Ethiopia's legal and sovereign right to use the Nile water for development fairly and equitably and said that Ethiopia has no interest in harming the lower Nile Basin countries in doing so.

Recalling that the trilateral talks had been held to address concerns raised by Sudan and Egypt, he reiterated that Ethiopia has always been committed to resolving issues through negotiations.

He expressed Ethiopia's interest in sustaining the African Union-led talks under the Chairmanship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and said talks to change the modalities of the negotiations should be treated according to the provisions of the DOP, which was signed by the tripartite in 2015.

The Deputy Prime Minister also said that Sudan has been provided with information on the security of the dam and the filling of the dam is part of the overall construction project.

Demeke thanked friendly countries for their efforts to make the negotiations successful and maintain peaceful relationships among the countries in the region.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions between the two sides ended with mutual understanding.