(Xinhua)

The construction of Ethiopia’s dam on the Blue Nile River will benefit current and future generations of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, said South Sudanese Official here on Thursday.

The construction of the dam in Ethiopia would not affect adversely the interest of the other countries like Egypt or Sudan, said the Official.

Pagan Amum, Chief Negotiator of South Sudan told reporters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that South Sudan has followed with concern the development and statement from Egypt in relation to the construction of the dam in Ethiopia.

The official said that countries in the Nile basins should cooperate on the management of the Nile waters to benefit their current and future generations.

“Ethiopia has the right to use the Nile water in terms of generation of electricity, in terms of irrigation, and the way we see this development is that it is not affecting the interest of Sudan or Egypt,” he said.

“We call on the government of Egypt and the government of Ethiopia to engage and cooperate in all the developments that are going to be to the benefit all the people,” he added.

Stating that South Sudan is a new state and member of the Nile Basin Countries, Amum said his country would work with governments and states in the Nile basin to reach agreement on the use and sustainable management of the Nile waters for the benefit of the people in the Nile Basin region.

*************

Source: Xinhuanet – June 13, 2013, titled “South Sudan calls on Egypt, Ethiopia to cooperate on Nile River development”.