Minister of Water and Energy Alemayehu Tegenu said yesterday that Ethiopia has no any intention of what so ever to harm the lower Nile riparian countries in its use of River Nile.

In response to the remark made by the Saudi Deputy Defence Minister, Khalid Bin Sultan, who said Ethiopia is a threat to the Nile water rights of Egypt and Sudan, Alemayehu said both Ethiopia and the rest of other upper Nile riparian countries intend to utilize the water for the purpose of eradicating poverty based on a win-win approach. "There is no project which aims to harm Egypt or Sudan,” he added.

The upper riparian countries have the right to use the Nile water without causing any harm to the lower riparian countries, said Alemayehu.

The Deputy Minister’s remark that the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam is a threat to Khartoum and Cairo is absolutely baseless, he said.

Previous studies have confirmed that the Great Renaissance dam has no negative impact on Sudan and Egypt, and the international panel of experts is already reviewing the dam project. “How can an official from a country which is not even a member of the Nile basin countries make such kind of wrong and groundless remark?" asked the Minister.

Ethiopia is constructing the dam based on international standards of quality which makes Khalid Bin’s remark about the possible collapse of the dam unprofessional.

Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid Bin Sultan was quoted as saying that Ethiopia is constructing the dam for political plotting rather than for economic gain and it is a threat to Egypt and Sudan national security, according to Sudan Tribune.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopia has demanded the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Ethiopia for explanation on the Deputy Defence Minister’s remark.

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* Originally published on the Ethiopian Herald on March 4, 2013, titled "Ethiopia has no intention to harm lower riparian countries : Minister".

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