Arab League Stand on GERD Sows Suspicion, Discord between Ethiopians, Egyptians: Water Expert

Addis Ababa May 27/2023 (ENA) The Arab League position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) creates suspicion and difference between the fraternal people of Ethiopia and Egypt, Water Administration Consultant Fekahmed Negash said.

He further noted that Ethiopia must thwart the false propaganda being disseminated from other directions too by explaining the facts about the dam to the international community.

Ten years have elapsed since Ethiopia commenced the construction of GERD after carrying out a study based on the principle of mutual benefits of the riparian countries.

GERD is a flagship project which demonstrates that Ethiopia has the aim of developing together with the upstream and downstream countries without causing significant harm to the riparian countries,  sticking to the principle of fair and reasonable water utilization.

 

However, those who do not want to Ethiopia to develop by using its natural resources seek to impose on it the colonial agreements the country did  not sign.

In this regard, scholars note this unbalanced and erroneous approach of these bodies stems from the desire of preventing Ethiopia from developing its natural resources and  confine the country in poverty.

The consultant told ENA that it is preferable that a third party stops interfering in differences that arise in relation to trans-boundary rivers.

Although there are third parties who want to resolve differences around trans-boundary water use peacefully, most try to protect their own interests, the expert elaborated.

He pointed out that parties, including the Arab League, which are trying to intervene in affairs related to the GERD, create differences instead of promoting mutual sustainable benefits of the basin countries.

Fekahmed stated that the riparian countries have, therefore, no better option than to resolve their differences by themselves.

It is only the people and government of Ethiopia that determine the rational and fair use of the Abay River, the expert stressed, adding that the government has shown its desire to develop together by establishing the principle of shared water use of the basin countries.

According to him, the Egyptian people should reject the decisions of the Arab League regarding the GERD as they create differences and suspicion between the brotherly people of Ethiopia and Egypt.

He revealed that the Arab League has formed 'Arab Water Council' that names many water bodies as Arab water and promotes the unacceptable approach that "no one can use the waters, except them". 

In keeping with this unacceptable and unjust approach, it has categorized the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Turkiye and  the tributes of Wabi Shebele and Genale Dawa in Ethiopia as Arab waters, the expert explained.

Fekahmed added that the dam Ethiopia has been building on Abay River is reasonable and the construction is consistent with the sovereign rights of the country and international water law.