Relations With Egypt İmproving: Ethiopian Diplomat

Ethiopia's ambassador to Egypt, Mohamoud Dirir, has arrived in Addis Ababa to attend a meeting by representatives from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD).



In this interview, Anadolu Agency quizzes the ambassador about Ethiopian-Egyptian relations and the dam, which has in recent years caused tension in the relations of the two states.



Q:   Sir, how do you assess current ties between Ethiopia and Egypt?



A: The relation between Ethiopia and Egypt is improving following the meeting of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on the sidelines of the 23rd A.U. Assembly of African Heads of State and Government.



The meeting of the two leaders helped pave the way to the improvement of their two countries' relations. This is a relief after stress for the countries.



Furthermore, the rejoining of Egypt to the tripartite dialogue of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt resulted from the talks held between the two leaders.



At present, Egypt has returned to direct talks and cooperation. The three countries have continued the talks as per their agreement before Egypt walked out of the dialogue.



The previous committee consisted of a total of ten experts,  four of them are international experts while the remaining six drawn from the three countries.



The visit of Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation,  Hossam al-Moghazi, to Ethiopia and also to the GERD site is considered a positive step forward. The Minister will be able to have firsthand information and be aware of the real situation. On our side, there is nothing hidden. Everything is open.



What I want to reassure is that our policy is not intended to harm Egypt.



Today, Ethiopia is hosting the tripartite technical committee meeting. The 12-member national experts' committee will put in place working procedures. The members will select international experts who will work with them to conduct two studies on a hydrological simulation model and a trans-boundary economic, social and environmental impact assessment.



Ethiopia welcomes the delegations of Egypt and Sudan.



The Sudanese position with regard to the GERD is clear. They have understood the objective behind the construction of the GERD, which is considered the national project of Ethiopians, and also the position and the interest of the Ethiopian people. They are aware that the Ethiopian people will complete the construction of the dam as they have launched it.  We believe that the time will not be far for Egypt to understand this.



There is no one interested in harming Egypt. The three countries: Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, need to undertake many projects in collaboration to benefit the peoples of their respective countries.



Q: Egyptians are expressing fears from Ethiopia's new Geba Dam too. What do you say in this regard?



A: This has nothing to do with GERD or the tripartite dialogue. The Construction of the Dam is funded by China. It is a small-size dam, with a capacity to generate 371 megawatts of electric power. The Dam has no impact on Egypt at all.



It is useful for Ethiopia's irrigation development along with power generation.



By Mohammed Taha Tewekel



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa