Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros: no option for Egypt than talks to solve the dam crisis

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 Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, said Egypt and Ethiopia do not have any other option other than talks to solve their differences over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam. The Foreign Minister made the remarks earlier today after meeting Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry.

The two Foreign Ministers held the talks ahead of the resumption of the tripartite discussion between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt that was paused when the Egyptian negotiators pulled out during President’s Mohammed Morsi’s presidency. Preparations are currently underway to start a joint commission comprising of the two countries that is tasked to pave a way for a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukery, on his part said the new Egyptian government led by President Sisi considers Ethiopia as a major component of its foreign policy.

“The meeting between President Sisi and Prime Minister Hailemariam during the AU Summit in Equatorial Guinea’s capital, Malabo has set the stage for a new phase of relationship based on mutual understanding and respect. We have come to the recognition that the Nile binds us and should be a source of mutual cooperation between the two countires,” Shoukery said.

Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros reiterated that the Nile issue should be a reason to work together and to engage in cooperation rather than differences. He said building the trust and confidence of the two governments is crucial to solve the differences the two countries have over Ethiopia’s mega-dam project.

He added two studies will be conducted on the Great Renaissance Dam in the coming six months as part of the tripartite discussions for which experts from the three countries have already been assigned.

“We are meant to cooperate and work together for mutual benefits. Both of us do not have any other options and we have agreed on this principle. This is an excellent opportunity for both us to swim together. If you are willing to understand our interest, then we are willing to understand your interest” Dr. Tedros told his Egyptian counterpart.

In another news, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced today that it has no concrete evidence about the reported killing of the head of the Al- Shabab jihadist group.

Spokesman of the Ministry, Ambassador Dina Mufti, told DireTube earlier today that his Ministry has not received any information about the authenticity of the reported killing of Al- Shabab’s Head Ahmed Abdi Godane.

According to reports that came out from Somalia on Wednesday, an American airstrike on Tuesday evening that targeted Al-Shabab may have killed Ahmed Abdi Godane, who has been the leader of the al-Qaeda linked group. Ambassador Dina said there have been many false reports suggesting the killing of the Al- Shabab leader in the past. He added his Ministry has received no information about the reported killing of the leader whose group has recently been losing grounds in many parts of the country after Somali forces supported by AU forces including Ethiopia launched massive attacks on its positions.

By Elias Meseret