10:59 PM Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Written by Dalia Al-Dhanini:
Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, commented on the end of the fourth and final round of the Renaissance Dam negotiations and the failure to reach a binding legal agreement on the rules for filling and operation.
“Sweilem” said during a phone call to the “Last Word” program broadcast on ON, today, Tuesday, that “there are no negotiations or new procedures on this path during the current stage.”
Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia fought marathon negotiations for more than a decade without reaching an agreement that the two downstream countries requested from Addis Ababa, regarding the rules for operating and filling the dam.
Cairo affirmed that it reserves the right “to defend its water and national security in the event it is exposed to harm.”
Sweilem added: “There was a presidential statement 4 months ago regarding the last round of negotiations, and there were positive indicators and we said at the time that we were cautiously optimistic because we know very well throughout history the methods of negotiation with Ethiopia and the evasions and manipulation it took over the course of 12 years. However, we said we are starting a new page.” “.
He continued: “We entered the closed rooms, and here surprises emerged from several things, namely raising the negotiating ceiling.”
Regarding the meaning of raising the “negotiating ceiling” on the Ethiopian side, the Minister of Irrigation said: In the first meeting in the last round, the numbers differed from what we reached in the paths that preceded the last round, noting that the wordings themselves began to change with the introduction of topics that were outside the negotiation.
He continued: For example, in terms of changing the formulations, we are negotiating a single dam called the Renaissance Dam in terms of filling and storage, and we were surprised by the inclusion of other topics such as future projects and future development, in addition to matters that were thrown into closed rooms that are not acceptable to the Egyptian side.
He pointed out that the numbers that ensure Egyptian water security in the event of drought were changed, which was not acceptable because we, as a negotiating delegation, are charged by the Egyptian state with protecting the rights of Egyptians and we cannot give up one cubic meter of water.
Sweilem pointed out that the Ethiopian side was forced into some flexible texts that do not mean much and do not achieve the desired goal, such as setting some points that give the Ethiopian side the right to change the numbers in the future individually, and this was unacceptable in form and substance.
He stressed that Egypt cannot sign or consider an agreement in which one party amends its texts and numbers individually in the future without referring to the other party, and this does not exist in any country in the world.
What happened?
• Egypt announced the end of the fourth and final round of the Renaissance Dam negotiations between it, Sudan, and Ethiopia, saying that it reserves the right “to defend its water and national security if it is harmed,” after the three countries failed to reach an agreement.
• Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia engaged in marathon negotiations for more than a decade without reaching an agreement requested by the two downstream countries from Addis Ababa, regarding the rules for operating and filling the largest dam on the continent of Africa.
• A statement by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said on Tuesday: “The meeting did not yield any results due to the continuation of the same Ethiopian positions of refusal over the past years to adopt any of the compromise technical and legal solutions that would secure the interests of the three countries, and Ethiopia’s persistence in reneging on what was reached.” Understandings that meet its declared interests.”
• The statement added: “It has become clear that the Ethiopian side is determined to continue exploiting the negotiating cover to establish the reality on the ground, and to negotiate for the purpose of extracting an instrument of consent from the two downstream countries on absolute Ethiopian control of the Blue Nile in isolation from international law.”
• The statement indicated that “in light of these Ethiopian positions, the negotiating paths have ended,” and Egypt affirmed that it “will closely monitor the process of filling and operating the Renaissance Dam, and that Egypt reserves its right guaranteed under international conventions to defend its water and national security in the event it is exposed to harm.” .
• In February 2020, the Renaissance Dam officially began producing electrical energy, coinciding with its filling 4 times since then, amid condemnation by Egypt and Sudan of “continuous intransigence.”
Read also:
“We reserve our right to defend our water security.” Egypt announces the end of the Renaissance Dam negotiations
“Intransigence continues.” An irrigation spokesman reveals the reasons for stopping the negotiation process for the Renaissance Dam
After the failure of the Renaissance Dam negotiations, what is Egypt’s next step?
2023-12-19 20:59:00
#Decisive #positions. #comment #Minister #Irrigation #failure #Renaissance #Dam #negotiations #Masrawy #Masrawy
