Nile| Joint Statement of Ethiopia, Egypt Foreign Ministers

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• Dr Tedros is a nice man, but too soft to handle grave and contentious issues such as the Nile and Egypt. That worries me. I feel somehow he should have remained a Health Minister.

  • I'm sure he has his advisors around him for such a sensitive and generational agenda.

    But, for me it is not only a matter of not-stopping the construction of the dam. For me Ethiopia should stand high once and for all demonstrating to Egypt that it will have the upper hand on Abay (but it will work not to harm Egypt significantly).

    I think unless otherwise it is at least pushed to be partially independent on the Nile, EGYPT WILL NEVER STOP WORKING AGAINST ETHIOPIA, destabilizing this country, whatever notes tied. Egypt should be pushed to look for other means of water as well, or complement its water security, than the nile. I think it has to finance desalination etc... using the revenue from oil rather than allowing its population not to pay for water or other services. Second Egypt SHOULD PAY DEARLY FOR EACH DROP OF WATER IF EACH DROP OF WATER IS EQUIVALENT TO A DROP OF BLOOD [as Morsi said] , even after the construction of the dam.

    • I agree !

• The article below including the one above was written by the same person three years ago. Given the clean track record of Dr Theodros Adhanom with extra ordinary contribution in the health sector, I do not think that he will agree to make a legaly binding deal in this way.

  Egypt is working hard for the establishment of "water security" as an internationally accepted principle.

  Egypt in collaboration with North African States is now pushing the issue through regional
  organizations such as the AU. The issue of "water security" is advanced by AMCOW promoted
  by countries such as Libya, which has a strategic interest in connecting the Nile water with its
  "Great man made river". It had also tried to secure an agreement on Basin transfer by the AU
  Head of States through AMCOW, but failed due to Ethiopia’s effort.
  Once the issue of "water security" is accepted as a leading principle in the utilization of African
  water resources, probably defined in favor of Egypt, creating an international precedence, then
  countries such as Ethiopia will be at a disadvantaged position. Therefore, it is to the advantage of
  Ethiopia to see that the issue of "water security" will not be a new curb to its sovereign right to
  the use of its water resources without causing significant harm to other Basin States.

  • Thank you, for your insightful idea.

    Personally, I don't have any issue with Dr Theodros Adhanom. I am grateful for his achievement when he was in health minster. But I hate to say, I think he might not handled the Nile issue as Egypt assertiveness. He may need help from some intellectuals who can rise "what if" questions and handle the issue in 360 degree.

    As our national interest concerned, we need to stand firm and believe that water resources is a natural resources as oil and gas. Egypt may keep pushing its selfish and unjust argument, but we need to convince the World: the Nile water is our natural resources and our people need to benefit from it. And we need to backup our claim by saying this much people died due to famine, clean water shortage, poverty, lack of health care, education and energy...It is not fair to force the Nile water owners to die in starvation and poverty. Ethiopians and black Africans deserve to benefit from their water resources as other people benefit from their Oil and gas.

    If there is any unjust "international principle or law" about our water, we need to understand the powerful countries created it to keep their colonial interest over others. Oscar Wilde says “In war, the strong make slaves of the weak and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor”

• I am sick and tired of Ethiopian government.How does a fuctioning government could allow such a thing? He came to ask the halt of the construction.He did not even apologized for comments made by the opposition and the president himself on last Moday.I am completely for the dam but I lost my faith in my government.They could have handled it better.As always,they become........When do they learn the lesson?Egypt is working 24/7 to destroy the dam and the country but still....i don't give a fuck about this anymore.so pissed off!

  • Brother, I understand your frustration.

    Personally I do a lot of research and fight for Our national and regional rights in online communication. Just simple unfair & unjust example, the people who have the water resource pay for water in their country, but in Cairo Egyptians get free water. A small country inside South Africa benefits from her water resources, even they call it white/blue diamond. We stand for "Egypt water security"? What does it mean? Please Please Please our government understand water is a natural resources for our people, as oil & gas is for Egypt.

    It is a shame for country, whose citizens treated inhumane in different countries because poverty, when its the government unwilling to claim the right price for its natural resource. YES, Water is a natural resources like oil and gas.

    • The information below is taken from an artical written by informed individual. Do you have a different perspective on "water Security" in line with the above atricle. I think it is a good idea to discuss about the concept and express our concern through various means to our government.

      The concept of "water security" in the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement had been introduced without rehearsal. At the Extraordinary Meeting of the Nile-COM, in Addis Ababa, on March 2006, just before lunchtime few experts along with the legal advisor confined themselves to workout a wording on the definition of the concept of "water security".
      The proposed draft was presented to the Council of Ministers late that afternoon. After struggling to grasp the new concept for hours, the Ministers failed to agree not only on the principle itself, but essentially on the proposed addition by Egypt and Sudan. Exhaustive deliberations of the Nile-COM Meetings at Kigali, Bujumbura, and Entebbe came up with a near consensus provision, with reservation by Egypt and Sudan.
      From an international law perspective, the concept of "water security" as defined in the
      Cooperative Framework text is a new concept. There is no evidence that the International Law Commission (ILC) had addressed this concept during its deliberations on the codification of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention. Therefore, the question within the context of Nile Basin Cooperative Framework text will be, whether the introduction of new principle, with no
      precedence warrants practicability in a specific watercourse agreement.

• The Egyptian colonial quota is the problem which should be tackled the moment they join CFA. In the mean time, we can't guarantee anything. at minimum, in writing! The opposition member of the Parliament had it almost right, they should have come with ' truck- load' of money. Water is a precious commodity, after all. From the get go, Mursi should have apologized before his foreign minster was allowed to set foot in Ethiopia. The Doc can say anything he wishes but the buck will stop at the assertive Parliament.

  • As Badme, they may say latter the experts recommended Nile belongs to Egypt & don't touch it.

  • I am sure the Ethiopian government will regrate on the way they handel the issue. But it will be to late and very costly for the country. Why Ethiopia considers the water security concerns of Egypt? What does it mean by water security? There different arguments which are potentially beneficiary to Ethiopia such as "virtual water" and "social adaptive capacity" but no Ethiopian official or actor mentioned this in public. The strong and diversified economy of Egypt has got various options to address water shortage.
    All the comments made above are showing the same concern and there might be others who feel similar pain. I hope the government will consider public opinion.
    Thank you and regards.

• Shame! Ethiopia seems polishing Egyptian shoes.

  There is no apologies from Egypt for their stupid insult. They are trying their best through rebels, Eritrea, Somali and public media to damage the interest Ethiopia. They refused to sign the Entebbe Agreement. They work day and night to block financial aid form world bank and others. Every time they demand many things in the expense of Ethiopia. Our government keep entertain it. Please stand up and say it, water is a natural resource like oil and gas.

• My worry is still with the play of words/phrases: how far are we clear when Dr. Tedros agreed Ethiopia will do its projects in consideration of 'water security of Egypt'?. I would be glad to be more sensitive to such kinds of expressions which can be misleading in interpretation. I feel also that Dr. Tedros was not actively engaged in the press briefing, other than reading the press release, which can be done by other protocol personnel, he might have add his Ethiopia's positions on the issue as the Egyptian counterpart did. Take care! we are dealing with issues of generations and countries (we have paid a lot to be at this level of equal footing with Egypt to negotiate on this issue of Abay).

  • Dr.Adhanom looked unusually tired. The timid nature of Ethiopian politicians while facing foreign adversaries is utterly unacceptable. It would have been better if they had a separate ' briefing' altogether. Why the Egyptians are trying to include Sudan, which has all but applauded the Dam, is anyone's guess! The Sudanese have agreed, in principle, to join the CFA as it is all but certain they will keep their quota, amounting to 18 billion cubic meter, give or take. They will have nothing to lose, from my observation. Even Egypt is sure to keep most of its ' colonial quota' considering how much ' good will ' there is in the Riparian Nations. i think in the neighborhood of some 40 to 45 billion cubic meter is all but assured. To fill in the rest, they will have to work with South Sudan on the Jonglei Canal which will divert some of the water lost in the Marshes. Similarly, they will have to curb a lot of excessive water- intensive farming, specially rice, mango, cotton and sugar cane. They will have to tap their enormous subterranean water resources. Major desalination effort should be undertaken to satisfy the burgeoning back pack tourist resort along the Sinai where millions of thirsty Europeans flock. And finally, nothing is free in a desert- like terrain, let alone water, so Egyptians should have to pay reasonable fees for the hitherto ' free' water to facilitate conservation and wise use of it. Specially, the wealthy have to pay a lot more than the average. bedewi. Egypt is not a poor country, but manged poorly. For comparative purposes, imagine the fact that 99% of Egyptians do have access to electricity. Our numbers are in the teens, we can't delay let alone halt our Project for a single day. We can take factors related to methane and structural safety, but the project shouldn't be hostage, no ifs or buts.

    • Dear Tazabi, I agree with you.

      Few month a go Egyptian intellectuals proposed 10 methods to handle the Nile issue. I read it from Arabic article then I mentioned their evil intentions in Amharic Reporter. One of the proposal was to separate the East Nile basin from White Nile. The aim was to separate Ethiopia from other African brothers then to put us in disadvantage position. This is one of the reason they wanted to include Sudan. I hope South Sudan doesn't let the Jungle canal to drain her wet land. Because the wet land is very important for South Sudan' environment and its rainfall; it is also good for the region.

      Do you know why Egypt wants to open industrial village in Tigray? This is also a strategic move; Their intention is not about helping the people of Tigray. This is one of the soft power they intended to use. They are manipulative, that is way they keep saying they invested more than 2 billion US$ in ETH. I totally don't believe this number, but from our side no one willing to disclose the exact Egyptian investment in our nation. Even if they invested that much, it doesn't give them the right to use our resources free.

    • Dear Tazabi,
      I agree with your observation, I'm also a bit dissatisfied when I see lack of rigor and firmnesson our part. It seems either the Egyptians have taken the upper position again or there is an intentional tail wagging from our side.

• I think we as a country should send a right message to Egypt on our tributary rivers flowing to River Nile. As the old colonial treaties are not binding for us we have even the right to use the water for other purposes including for irrigation on fair and equitable manner.

  We shouldn't allow Egypt to micromanage our domestic affairs under the cover of water security. They are talking about their water security but we should think about our national security..., as Egypt is being turned as a national threat.

• "The Ethiopian Foreign Minister, on his part, assured his Egyptian counterpart that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which will be used for power generation purposes, is being built in a way that addresses Egypt’s water security concerns." Can some on elaborate this?

  "Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr says his country need not apologize for some of its politicians who suggested the right course of action may be to sabotage the construction of the dam. “It’s not a matter of regrets or apologies," "Some pronouncements were made in the heat of the moment, or because of their emotions. No regrets were required.” from VOA

  It seems that Egypt bullying and manipulating starts working?

  • I think Ethiopia should demand formal apology for the threathening remarks of their politicians, before starting the next negotiations.

• Water is a natural resource like Oil and gas. As Turkey says Ethiopia has full right on her water resources, as Egypt does on her oil, gas and tourism income.

  If the dam filling delayed 5 to 7 years, our return on investment will suffer significantly. Which also means our development through power generation, and its cyclical effect in manufacturing, service, agriculture, export & financial industry will be delayed and suffer as a result of Egypt bullying.

  Also, its not fair for poor Ethiopians and Ethiopian banks to finance this dam through bond purchase , then our government let them suffer economically, just to accommodate selfish and unjust Egypt’s interest.

  Our government needs to study how Lesotho, Canada ( through Columbia river), Turkey and Malaysia(it's exporting 40% of Singapore’s water for the last 50 years) are benefiting from their water resources.

  Someone may oppose these proven practice by mentioning non existing law; whether it exist or not the powerful governments created it to keep their unjust interest. These unjust governments as colonial era, they want take free or share our natural resources; however, they want to sale their natural resources even if its a dirt.

  Therefore, black Africans need to benefit from their water resources as Egyptians citizens benefit from their oil, gas & tourism income.