Despite mounting public concern for his safety, Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi flew to the Egyptian Capital, Cairo, yesterday evening.

His Egyptian counterpart, Essam Sharaf, received him at the airport.Meles Zenawi Essam Sharaf

Talks between Meles and Tantawi would discuss enhancing bilateral ties between Egypt and Ethiopia, and the latest developments related to the Nile basin file, an Egyptian outlet, nileinternational.net, reported.

Meles is set to sign a number of cooperation treaties between Egypt and Ethiopia to strengthen economic ties in the fields of water resources, irrigation, health and agriculture, according to the news.

Reuters reported few hours ago:

Egypt and Ethiopia have agreed to set up a technical team to review the impact of a $4.8-billion Nile river dam which Addis Ababa announced in March, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said in Cairo on Saturday.

"We have agreed to quickly establish a tripartite team of technical experts to review the impact of the dam that is being built in Ethiopia," Zenawi told a news conference with Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. Experts from Sudan will also be part of the team.

"We have agreed to continue to work on the basis of a win-win solution for all countries in the Nile basin," he added.

Sharaf said Cairo and Addis Ababa were discussing a "comprehensive development plan" for the two countries.

"We can make the issue of the Grand Renaissance Dam something useful," he said. "This dam, in conjunction with the other dams, can be a path for development and construction between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt."

[Stay tuned for more updates.]

Daniel Berhane

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