FA Spokesperson Commends Egypt Foreign Minister Comment on GERD

Addis Ababa May 20/2021 (ENA) Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson has lauded the recent comment of Egypt's Foreign Minister on the second-round filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

It is to be recalled that Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reassured Egyptians that the second filling of the GERD will not negatively impact them as Egypt still has the Aswan High Dam reservoir to rely on.

Following the comment, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dina Mufti described the move today as good and which supports Ethiopia's position.

In his biweekly briefing to the media, he said the foreign minister’s comment could be taken as a better demonstration that Egypt has been changing its stance on the Renaissance Dam and is clearly moving towards supporting Ethiopia’s firm position.

“Regarding the second-round filling of GERD, the Egyptian foreign minister's statement that  the filling will not affect us and has many benefits concurs with our argument. I think this is  great,” Dina stated.

According to him, the minister's statement is also based on the fact that the GERD does not harm the lower riparian countries, and it is a confirmation that the coming six rounds of dam filling will not bring about significant harm.

Ethiopia is always committed to equitable utilization of Nile and the river has to become a source of cooperation, he further noted.

“We always have one principle, that is we are all members of the Nile family. Therefore, we should not allow the Nile to be a source of difference or harm to the people of the riparian countries but a source of cooperation.”

Stressing that Ethiopia has no intention of harming anyone but pursuing its development, Dina pointed out that the US government has shown lack of solid position on Renaissance Dam.

Despite its denial to belive in the truth, USA doesn’t have a position that the dam should not be filled. 

In his biweekly briefing, the spokesperson also recalled that a steering committee established under the auspices of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia in order to promote and tourism market in Ethiopia held a meeting yesterday.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Tsion Teklu held a discussion with Algerian pharmaceutical company - ORBIOX - that came to Ethiopia to conduct a pre-investment study, Dina added.

Speaking about citizen-centered diplomacy, the spokesperson said the Ethiopians Diaspora   in Washington DC held a rally calling on some international organizations and countries to stop unduly pressurizing the Ethiopian government.

Moreover, the Ethiopians Diaspora in Canada raised 50,000 Canadian Dollars and those in Germany over one million Birr to support the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, he revealed.

The spokesperson said President Sahle Work Zewde attended the inauguration of Ugandan PresidentYoweri Museveni and held talks with leaders of various countries.

She also participated in a conference organized by French President Emmanuel Macron to a crowdfunding financial support to African countries affected by COVID 19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke held talks with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross and appreciated its effort to rehabilitate the displaced people in Ethiopia, it was learned.

In the course of the week, 1200 citizens were repatriated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.