(Daniel Berhane)
[Updated with More quotes from Pres. Morsi speech at the bottom]
Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi provided today yet another evidence that his government is unable to depart from populist positions and respect norms of international relations applied by responsible nations.
Reuters reported half an hour ago that:
President Mohamed Mursi said on Monday he would keep “all options” open to defend Egypt’s water supply from being affected by a giant new dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile but he added that Cairo did not want war.
In a televised speech to Islamist supporters in Cairo, Mursi used emotive language to underline the importance of the Nile waters to Egypt: “We are not advocates of war, but we will never permit our water security … to be threatened,” he said.
However, it appears the international public opinion is against Egypt’s belligerency.
The English daily of Dubai, GulfNews, published an Op-Ed titled “Egypt wrong in its rhetoric over Nile”. The Op-Ed reads:
Even though the River Nile does not belong to Egypt alone, some of its leaders seem to believe that it does and that they can act accordingly. They are wrong,
In brazen disregard for international convention and law, some Egyptian politicians reportedly recommended the country back rebels and engage in sabotage in Ethiopia to prevent it from building a dam on the Nile.
The hydroelectric dam will be the largest in Africa and export power to the rest of the continent, which is desperately short of electricity. The dam is not expected to significantly impact Egypt’s water supply once it is in operation. And, Ethiopia has every right to use its natural resources for the development of the country and its neighbours. It would be easy to dismiss the proposals that were raised in a meeting with Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi, as the ravings of the fringe, except for the worrying reaction of the president and his aides. Rather than clearly condemning the proposals and rhetoric, an aide to Mursi simply apologised to the political leaders for not warning them that their meeting was being broadcast on television.
Mursi merely limited himself to saying the Egypt will not engage in aggressive acts against Ethiopia. And, his office warned that “Egypt will never surrender its rights to Nile water and all options [to safeguard it] are being considered”. Nile water is a vital resource for Egypt and any legitimate concerns must be addressed, with due respect to the sovereignty and needs of Ethiopia.
If Egypt engages in any underhand activity to destabilise Ethiopia, it may face opposition from the international community – something it cannot afford given its shaky economy and political instability.
Egypt must publicly commit itself to addressing its concerns through the legal means. East Africa is a volatile region that cannot afford reckless threats.
A leading Kenyan outlet, The Star, lamented relayed a similar message in an Op-Ed titled “Egypt should end hardline over Nile”. The-Star wrote:
Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia are at their highest in recent decades.Egypt is unhappy that Ethiopia is building a dam, dubbed the Grand Rennaisance Dam, on the Blue Nile River.
Leaders in the land of Pharoa are again invoking ‘historical rights’ to the Nile guaranteed by two treaties from 1929 and 1959 which allow it 87 percent of the river’s flow and give it powers to veto projects upstream.
Egypt needs to let go of this hardline stance and embrace dialogue with all the riparian states along the Blue and White Nile.
Other countries believe the treaties signed by colonial governments were unfair, as they too have a right to utilize the waters for electricity generation and irrigation.
Nile Basin countries signed a new deal in 2010 allowing them to work on projects involving the river without first seeking approval from Cairo.
While it is a fact that Egypt wholly depends on the Nile for its survival -its leadership last week said it was a matter of national security- it should be willing to accommodate the needs of other state.
As Ethiopia begins diverting the Blue Nile some 500 meters from its natural course, there is need to reopen dialogue on the future utilization of the river.
The solution is to reach an agreement that works in favour of all states and does not harm or hinder any of them.
In the past week, both the United States and United Kingdom governments advised Egypt to solve the matter amicably and through negotiations – the only feasible venue any way.
It is not clear how long Egypt will stick to its outdated belligerent rhetoric that proved unable to stop the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam project which is now more 21% complete.
It is to be recalled that the International Panel of Experts on the Renaissance dam, which was established as a good will gesture by Ethiopia to assure the Egyptians, presented its final report last month.
The Panel – consisting Ethiopian, Sudanese, Egyptian and other renowned international experts – concluded the dam poses no significant harm on downstream countries. Ethiopia and Sudan immediately accepted the report, while Egypt chose to nitpick the findings in an apparent inability to depart from her old chauvinist rhetoric and domestic political consumption.
An accidentally aired meeting of the Egyptian President and major political parties on the matter, last week, displayed Cairo’s heavy-weight politicians plotting sabotage on the dam and on the domestic security of Ethiopia as well as direct military attacks.
Spokesperson of the Ethiopian Prime Minister snubbed the televised meeting “day-dreaming”, while the Foreign Ministry summoned Egypt’s Ambassador demanding an official explanation.
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Update: (More quotes from Pres. Morsi speech)
Daily News Egypt reported today (June 11) that:
“If our share of Nile water decreases, our blood will be the alternative” said President Mohamed Morsi in his speech at the Popular Conference on Egypt’s Rights to Nile Water on Monday…..
“Since May 2011 Egypt has been a part of an international panel of experts (IPoE) formed to study and assess the potential effects of the [Renaissance dam] on both downstream countries Egypt and Sudan,” Morsi said…….“Egypt conducted parallel technical studies with the help of international experts; the studies showed the dam had potentially negative effects on Egypt if it was constructed according to the current Ethiopian model,” he added……
The president added that Ethiopia and Sudan were Egypt’s sisterly nations. “We love Africa and its entire people.” The past two years witnessed clear progress in Egypt’s relations with Nile Basin countries, especially Ethiopia……In his speech, the president also stressed that all options are open when it comes to threats to Egypt’s share of the Nile. “The greatness of the Egyptian people lies in their unity in times of crisis… I urge [the Egyptian people] to offer advice and opinions on the issue even if I disagree with some of them.”
The conference was organised by predominantly Islamist and Salafi parties, including the Freedom and Justice, Al-Nour, Al-Wasat, Building and Development, Labour, Al-Watan, Al-Asala, Al-Fadila and Al-Shaab parties, among others.
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[Stay tuned]
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Egyptian must know we are stading for respecting our soverignity and utilize our natural resource. And they have to know as we have good experiance to defeat our enemy simply. So they should not see us as enemy. We also consider Abay as our drop of blood so please leave alone Ethiopia.
We all Ethiopians we have to cooperate to complete the renainsance dam successfully. We have good history from our ancestor, they did good during the era and we have to repeate it!!!!!!
how can i write? how can i explain my emotions? in this 21st century do you think there will be an extremely selfish leader!? …… the egyptian leader. how could he say” we love ethiopians.” if he want to say he loves the “poor ethiopia” it will be true. nevertheless, he is our number one enemy that wants to prolong our poverty. no ethiopian should allow this outdated idea of the egyptian. we need unity. egyptian are among us to disturb our peace. any one should be careful. if they want the bloody war we still are ready………… we need the corpus of the narrow minded president mursi.
Form history point of view, the only option that Egyptians have never tried to deal with the Nile issue is soft diplomacy. The other options, like sabotageing to destabilize the country and war to control the source of Nile were there for 100s of years. Some of them fulfilled for some time( destabilizing) and some not (war) and will not in the future. This generation of both countries should look for mutual cooperation . Otherwise the issue of Nile will be a time bomb for the years and generations to come. There is no winner and loser in the Nile game. The options are two; to win together or to lose together. I hope as a modern society the option is clear. TO WIN TOGETHER!!!!!
If Egyptians attempt to sabotage the renascence dam, I think it is apparent that there are one million one ways Ethiopia could pursue to significantly harm the flow of Nile to Egypt. But this is a zero sum game!!!!
What a great mistake the Egypt president made. His aggressive acts and words will stay in the minds of all Ethiopians. He better resign and other Egypt opticians who have the capability to think of the win-win scenario. Otherwise, the all Egyptians will pay the consequence. First and foremost, Egyptians should know that we are the origin of the Nile. Unless we agree on the proportion of water we are going to use, it is clear that it is a matter of time that no body will stop us to use the water. And also do not be foolish to try to destabilize our country. The current situation you happen to face is the consequence of your selfish acts of the last thousand years. Allah bless Ethiopia
dear mursi don’t you know Ethiopia is a capital city of Africa please don’t miss the points to be consider for two sister countries
A country who lost 300 war planes while on the ground by the Israelis fighter jets in 10 mnts should not boast of its military capabilities. having B52 or F16 is nothing if you don’t know how to use it and when to use it.i am wondering if there is any achievement by Egypt’s military forces in their history.Ethiopians are war hardened people by far most experienced in the continent.
The best illustrations would be the recent activity done by the Ethiopian forces in Somalia.Ethiopian went there in 2007 and drove the Islamist.Don’t forget even Americans were lost the war there.The AU forces replaced Ethiopian forces at 2010 but couldn’t resist the Islamist. again Ethiopians are called back to make things in control.The specialists did it in favor of them.
Therefore , Military option is not a better choice for Egypt cause they surly loss the war and there might be a fire back. perhaps Ethiopia might use the dam for irrigation too which Egypt don’t like or may throw them in serous hunger.I even say,The Ethiopia Government should stop bargaining with Egyptians about the dam under the title “i use it for Hydro power only” it has to say we should have a fare share of the water.Egypt should find another source to fill the deficit comes out during the fare share.The Ethiopian people need to secure their own food.God blessed us with our resource of water why we are not using our rivers for irrigation?why we are dependent on seasonal rain only?
This dam should have an irrigation project attached to it.That way it make sens.other wise it does not add up if the intention is only for Hydro power.
The Title should be on fare share of water not abt the construction of Hydro electric dam which doesn’t consume water but only for turning turbines.
Egypt should stop claiming 55 bCM water which is 87% of the Nile river water.it should be divided among all Nile basin countries.
Don’t forget Ethiopian can do also small scale irrigation on major tributaries of the magnificent Geon (Abay).
A none drop contrtutor over Nile River dares to forbid a country of 80% contributor to use a drop. What a blind shame! What a shameless shame!
How on earth could one say, ‘you keep on starving and let me have all in all though it is your resource’
What a greedy shame!
A country that used to pay tax on Nile to Ethiopia for over 2000 years threatens to use force if necessary because it tries to use its resource on mutual basis¡
What a historical mistake!
O! Egypt wake up!
I and my fellow Ethiopians strongly believe that Egypt is not deprived of wise citizens.
Please advice them:
– not to flow blindly along z shifting internal political tricks of President Mursi.
-think scientific & equitable than muscle.
– to refresh their mind with the International laws.
– to strive for peace and development on round table basis.
– to remind that Mursi is claiming war against 6 countries.
– to remind all that the 1929 & 1959 agreements are ineligible as they had been signed by a colonial country with a country under its colonial administration in colonial era with no participation of Nile source countries.
– look back Ethiopian history & Legacy againest aggression even what Egypt tried on Ethiopia.
I will come with broader tangible and justifiable issues later on.
Moges Hiluf
long ago when Egyptians built “Aswan” dam they had to think of what is gonna happen if Ethiopians want to do the same after a while ? What will happen to the people who will farm around “Aswan” ? They did not care about them. But now they are telling us millions of people who are farming around it are wored about Ethiopian dam ! so let’s kick them !!! Offcourse Egyptian got weapon from west but westerns didn’t gave them the heart, courage to fight like a man, u know why courage/heart belongs to Ethiopians history showed it in the past and in near future too, if we’ve to .
It is better to solve problem through diplomatic way than other .
Ethiopia has the right to plan, design and develop its own projects without waiting for permission from others. However, the country has also taken into consideration the multilateral interests of neighboring countries wihtout neglecting the role of others. Egypt also has the right to negotiate, not to command, neighboring countries. Most important to both countries is to engage in peaceful development and execution of cross border international projects that facilitate cooperation and progress. Peoples in both countries are suffering a lot from prolonged poverty and disease.
Shame upon Egypt politicians for their ignorance about Ethiopia and Ethiopians. I do not think they have time to read history and learn from it. Their war propaganda has really zero impact on Ethiopians since Ethiopians practically know war and how to fight any kind of enemy let alone fragile Egypt troops .It is true that Ethiopians love every African citizen. They know that love and peace are critically significant. Clearly that is why we are very patient about Egypt politicians’ sabotage and empty discourse. However, if Egyptians do not love peace and mutual benefit, It will be good news for Ethiopians since we deeply love war in conditions in which peace has no value.If that has to the end of the game surely all Ethiopians will say “welcome Egypt.”
The Egyptian government has been working for a century to make Ethiopia and its people poor and poorer. Still it needs to use the same fashion today. We Ethiopian are very proud to defend and protect our liberty. If they continue to attack and harm us, they will be punished by two important events. First in the war field and second they will lose the whole Abay water. River Abay is at the hand of Ethiopians. It is possible to divert the river totally and then they will be under our control..
For Ethiopians poverty is both historical enemy and threat to our identity.This days, Ethiopia is in the right truck to defeat poverty. This is so because the country started to utilize its resources (human and natural) to undermine its historical enemy, poverty. So the victory over poverty is supreme good for us and this is a legitimate victory that every body should love. Any divination against this stand is collaborating with our historical enemy, poverty. Immediately, those collaborators are enemies no less than poverty for which Ethiopia will not have an ear to hear.
“development by cutting all the roots of poverty”
Egyptian politicians are aware of the importance of the GRD for their country. They are simply provoking in order to embrace the mind of Egyptian people ,who is demanding freedom,bread and liberty .Because Mursi could not answer any of the questions raised in Tharir square.
President Mursi,Please do not spoil your history by trying to divert your personal political problem to the Ethiopian people flag project Renaissance Dam.8 million Egyptians have requested your stepping down ,now you are trying to cheat them as if there is threat from Ethiopia.The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is less than half of Aswan in water volume ,i.e.74 billion meter cube.Aswan dam is 169 billion meter cube ,built just near Cairo.Are Italian Engineers less than Russian engineers plus it i s2003 forty years after Aswan and THree Gorges in CHina where a lot of international experience in dam building is available.Instead ,it would have been good for Egypt to support Ethiopia in all aspects ,technically and diplomatically so that it can get loan for its dams on the Blue Nile.God bless Egyptians.We are not concerned whether you stay in power or not .That is the Egyptian people right but please do not play this Nile Card .It will not help .
this is not time to renegotiate about the river flowing right from the heart of Ethiopia. the only thing there can be done is to adjust your view. all this years people should should have been benefited from this river and no more,anybody who says it is just a river come and take a look at it and you will see why this has to be done.just think about the countries other than yourself,this question is only mentioned because the river crosses our border.
As it is known the construction of Ethiopian Renaissance Dam does not have any impact on the down stream countries instead they are going to benefited from it. this is the truth which is on the ground and has been approved by the experts group which holds two from Ethiopia, two from Egypt, two from Sudan and other international experts. But the biggest mistake of Egyptian politicians is that they listen only half of what the Ethiopians says and understand only quarter of it and their telling is double. this is just to divert their political and economical crises from their people and I hope the people of Egypt will understand this and hopefully will work closely as usual together with its Ethiopia people.
As they know the history of Ethio.Derbush war history the Egyptians were defeated 16 times by Ethiopians at different battle. for great renaissance dam all Ethiopians are same commitment and one. 84 million people thinks as one and one individual person thinks as 84 million people.
and all are equipped with not only modern equipment but also with modern brain.!!
In my opinion Some Egyptian opposition parties and government bodies lost one thing that they must not be forgotten.For their surprise Egypt has no any contribution for the creation of the Nile river. by knowing this fact they were the sole users and no country have the right and the power to use the river even Ethiopia which has 80 percent share of the Nail river. OK lets forget all the past. At this the 21st century this kind of thinking has no valid they should be rational for their speech. Therefore we advise to them is still they have time to think wisely and a good manner. They must not to be emotional but being a rational for their action and its better to co-operate with Ethiopia for mutual benefit.
Is the war a criteria to check who is Ethiopian who is not? I don’t think so. All Ethiopians are Ethiopians for centuries and millennium without regard of regime support or oppose and every body support his countries resources and projects, b/c it is belong to country not party, done /will done by individuals taxi money (bond).
I don’t think the Egyptians will make such a grave mistake! If they do so, I think they are Harming their future generations! Only cooperation is the option on the table. Otherwise, Ethiopians are now very curious to defend their own interest and resource!
Now it’s the time to see who is Ethiopian and who is not And Egyptians will know who we are when it’s about our country There is no any kind of power that makes us to stop.Nile and the Renaissance dam are ours!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well let’s us assume Egypt had miracle on destroying the Renaissance Dam. Do they finished their assignments and sustained and secured their flow of water??? Do they think Ethiopia puts hands up and sleep forever??? No, totally no!!! U know why? The whole of the assignments given to Ethiopia a minute on wards will be to effectively utilize Nile regardless of Egypt at each spots of the tributaries of Nile starting from the roofs of each individual homes in Ethiopia where the Nile start to shed. Don’t u think such small scale water utilization schemes will dry off the Nile for ever???? I don’t think that they recognized Nile flows from Ethiopia, where any acceptable but internationally unfriendly water utilization schemes affects their country at large down the steam.
I think it is crazyness for Mursi. what a mistake Ethiopia made? Imagine if the Source of Nile was in Egypt…will Egypt allow us to use it? I don’t think so. Ethiopia and Ethiopians are very responsible and kind. they didn’t try to stop the fllow of water. If Ethiopia nee to stop Nile fllow to Egypt, it is easy to divert the tributaries of Nile not thge main River. Egyptians shall think over it and they have to work with Ethiopians for common benefit. they can help Ethiopia by planting tries around the source which will help to increase the water volume. Nile is enouph for all of us! but, if Egypt continues to stop building, Ethiopia can and have the right to use its own water even for agricultural development. we can do this begining from many tributaries of Nile on the Highlands of Gojjam. the only solution for Egypt is to work with Ethiopia.
I prefer dying ten times than watching Egypt deciding for me!!!!!!!!!!!
Its 20 century , we have all potential in this time we are not worried egypt or other F**king countries , the should look our history we are not afraid any one , but we are peaceful people I have a big message for egypt be careful ur thoughts ,,,, we LOVE ETHIOPEA
if i were hilemariyam, do you know what i do? if the egyptians touch the GERD, as a commander in chief, i order the ethiopian millitary to do the same in aswan dam
Egyptian politicians braged to close the Suez Canal for the ships of some countires.This is arrogance as the Nile countries can not stop water to Egypt ,the same is true for Egypt that it can not close the Canal for any country.We are living in 21 century,If they try that they will be under International Force and will be made to behave properly if that is more comfotable for them.If they are fade up of their Freedom.That option is there on the table.No mistake about that.
A day-Dreaming by Egyptians! we never consider a missed historically use of Nile by Egyptians!
The final solution is smart moves from now on wards.Sooner or later this provactions will cool down soon because they have no truth on the ground.But,other actions have to follow from upper riparian nations.Ratify the CFA and quickly establihs the Nile Basin Commission even with out Egypt.Sudan will sooner or latet join the CFA family as long as things move reasonable towards Sudan and Egypt.So,Egypt will remain alone and that is what it deserves.All the blood lost in upper nile countries by the destablishing role of differnt Egyptian govenrments has been appleaing to GOD.
It seems Egypt is confused.But confusion does not bring better solutions only complicated matters .No country can ask another country not to build a dam.The dam is built by World Class contractors and consultants.It is financed by Ethioians them selves.By the way did Sudanses and Ethioian engineers were given the chance to be members of technical team during Aswan Dam construction.Ethiopia went a long extra distance to allow two Egyptian experts to study the impact of the Dam on Egypt.The response from Egypt should have thank you Ethiopia.
The USA,UK have advised Egypt to cooperate.Even Sudan is warning Egypt to stop provations and cooperate with Ethipia for common benefit.If Egypt continues with provacatoins ,the UN ,AU ,Arab League have to warn the Egyptian govenrmnt to behave properly.It is becmong too much .Poor Ethiopians are contributing from their food budget for this project and on that such kind of provactions is unfair.Egypt has to know that not alone Ethiopia that is stronger than Egypt in many ways,any weak nation can defend such kind of arrogance people as God will be on their side.
The solution for the frustrations by the Egyptian president is to respond politely to the issue and address the situation to Egyptians so that they grasp the condition.The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is just a Dam Aswan or Merewe Dam.Even with better benefit as it saves more water for Egypt as Ethiopian highlands are cooler.
Egyptian president is trying to divert attention of Egyptians from Tahrir Square to Nile Issue.This is the character of weal politicians.But,this will not work as Egyptians are smart people and will sooner or later hear the truth on the ground.Even Sudan ,the closest country for Egypt is advising them to stop Provacations agianst Ethiopian Dam.
Do you thing Egypt try any unacceptable action? I think nothing will do because they know us better in history . it is not the first time but they never defeat us . it is better to put in table for them . I want to tell all Ethiopians living outside should participate the dam construction!!!
Ethiopian government needs to win the propaganda war. Specially, embassies need to play a great role.
And Stop repeating again and again not for irrigation purposes. As far as the water is our natural resource, we have the right to use it whatever we think it fits.
EGYPT,
BETTER COME TO YOUE SENSES… THE COST OF SUCH AN ARROGANT POLICY WOULD BE IMMENSE. THE ETHIOPIA YOU SEE TODAY IS NOT THE SAME ETHIOPIA YOU KNOW YESTERDAY, NOR THAT THE ETHIOPIANS YOU KNOW YESTERDAY ARE THE SAME.
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA
The late PM Meles Zenawi was right. No modern and rational leader in Egypt. Even the new gov’t also thinks like the Mubarak’s gov’t. No modern leader in the land. Most of them are stone mind and They are trying to accelerate their countries failure.
Me by myself have fead up with tolerating their selfishness so, unless they dont stope their selfishness, when my time comes to rule my country, I swear!!! I will destroy their land toxicating the water!!!!!
they only shout as a barking dog. we know now they are weak in their economy, there is no unity in their country after down fall of Mubarek regime, and still they are fearing the international community specially USA & UK. so they are trying to destablizing Ethiopia building the dam by propoganda. hahaha they are foolish as they are trying to think in military power in 21th century. i don’t think Egypians will atrack us & i don’t think they will affect the constraction of the dam.
no things are not possible !!!!!!
WE MAKE PEACE FOREVER SO WE MAKE PEACE WITH EGYPT !!!!!!!
THIS DAM IS NOT ONLY THE ETHIOPIAN BUT AFRICAN!!!!!!!!THAT MEANS ITS KENYAN,UGANDAN,EGYPTIAN,……………………………
no things resists us becous we have all things!!
AS WE STARTED THE BIULDING OF RENESSANCE DAM AND AS WE STARTED WE ALSO FINISHS IT!!!!!!
Stupid Islamist.