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cooperation is “the key to a successful
collective effort to reduce poverty and increase
growth, thus delivering on the development
potential of the region”.
“We firmly hope that Egypt, Ethiopia and
Sudan will persevere with efforts to achieve
an agreement on the GERD that is beneficial
to all”.
UN

HYDRO
the Eastern Partnership countries, our dam could ultimately provide more electricity
joint support will help to step up energy- at a cheaper price, increase irrigation potential Egypt warns of ‘existential
efficient and renewable-energy investments and reduce flooding to the Nile States.
in the private sector, thus helping to build Since construction began, there have been threat’ from Ethiopia dam
sustainable economies.” several rounds of talks between Ethiopia and
the downriver States of Sudan and Egypt. Egypt has told the United Nations it faces an
“To fully realize its benefits and mitigate existential threat from a hydroelectric dam on
potential negative effects on the downstream the Blue Nile that Ethiopia plans to start filling
HYDRO countries”, Ms. DiCarlo commended the in the coming weeks.
States involved for undertaking several At a virtual meeting of the UN Security
UN calls for cooperation “commendable initiatives over the past Council on Monday, Egypt’s Minister of
decade”, including the 2015 Declaration
Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry warned of
over GERD project of Principles on the GERD, in which the conflict if the UN fails to intervene, Al Jazeera
three countries committed to “cooperation,
reported.
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary equitable and reasonable utilization, security, He urged the council to adopt a resolution
DiCarlo underscored via videoconference and the peaceful settlement of disputes”. that would give international clout to efforts
that “transboundary water cooperation is a While trilateral discussions have been to resolve the dispute over Ethiopia’s dam, the
key element in the implementation of the conducted, she noted that “the three riparian filling of which he said endangers the lives of
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. States were not able to reach agreement” on a 150mn Egyptians and Sudanese.
She also warned that “climate change, text presented in February. However, they did Shoukry said the draft resolution is in
combined with projected demographic appoint observers to the talks, including South line with the outcome of an African Union
growth and socio-economic changes, will Africa, the United States and the European (AU) summit on Friday where the leaders of
increase water management challenges Union. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia agreed to return
worldwide”. And on 26 June, at a session of the Bureau to talks aimed at reaching an agreement over
“Through the generation of of the African Union (AU) Heads of State, the filling of the $4.6bn Grand Ethiopian
hydroelectricity, the GERD will significantly President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi (Egypt), Prime Renaissance Dam, known by its initials
boost Ethiopia’s energy sources, allowing Miister Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia) and Prime GERD.
it to increase electrification, accelerate Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Sudan) agreed “This draft resolution is not intended to
industrialization, and export excess electricity to an AU-led process to resolve outstanding pre-empt or forestall any negotiations, but to
to the region”, the top UN political official issues. express at the highest levels the deep interests
said. “The parties will meet over the next two of the international community in reaching an
Stemming from the complicated water weeks for this purpose”, Ms. DiCarlo informed agreement on the GERD and its appreciation
supply politics of the Nile States, the GERD the 15-member organ, lauding the parties of the dangers of acts of unilateralism in this
has been a politically-charged issue in the “determination to negotiate an agreement” matter,” he said.
region for years. and applauding the AU’s efforts to facilitate Shoukry said the proposed resolution
When it merges with the White Nile the process. encourages the three countries to reach an
in Khartoum, the Blue Nile contributes The remaining differences include the agreement within two weeks and not take any
approximately 85 per cent to the volume of binding nature of an agreement, the dispute unilateral measures in relation to the dam,
the main Nile River. resolution mechanism and the management and it “emphasises the important role of the
Dam construction began on the Blue of water flow during droughts. UN secretary-general in this regard”.
Nile, near the Sudan border in Ethiopia’s While acknowledging that the UN has not Hours after the AU agreement was
Benishangul-Gumuz region back in April participated in the GERD negotiations, the announced, the Ethiopian prime minister’s
2011. Once completed, the $4.5bn project will political chief assured that, “the Secretary- office said in a statement that the filling of
be Africa’s biggest hydroelectric power plant. General is fully seized of this matter”. the dam was set to begin within the next two
Concerned that the dam could decrease its If the parties “show the necessary weeks and that construction would continue.
water supply, depending upon how quickly political will to compromise”, she upheld Ethiopia’s UN ambassador said on Monday
it is filled, Egypt wants guaranteed access to that differences can be overcome, and “an the UN was not the place to discuss the
adequate water if there is a drought while agreement can be reached”, adding that the dispute.
Ethiopia is filling the reservoir. UN “stands ready to assist”. “Let me be clear in that Ethiopia doesn’t
Meanwhile, Ethiopia maintains that the In conclusion, Ms. DiCarlo said that believe the issue being discussed today has

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