Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated that talks over a planned $4 billion Ethiopian dam should continue in line with a cooperation deal signed between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan last March. Al-Sisi's remarks came during a meeting Saturday with Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and irrigation minister Hossam Abdel Ghaffar to discuss the results of tripartite talks held between irrigation ministers of the three countries in Addis Ababa last week. In April, all three countries agreed to commission two European firms to carry out the studies on the potential impact of the dam on the flow of the Nile. The studies by the companies, which would be compiled over an 11-month period, was originally due in August. However, the firms have not yet submitted any technical proposal on how they intend to proceed. The issue has been a subject of contention between Egypt and Ethiopia, with Addis Ababa insisting on naming a French firm as the main consultant while Cairo prefers a Dutch firm that would act as a sub-consultant to carry out water and environmental studies. Al-Sisi reaffirmed the importance of "resuming negotiations on Ethiopia's Renaissance dam according to the terms of reference approved in the 'declaration of principles' signed last March," his office said. The deal that was signed in Khartoum last March saw the countries agree on fair water usage and a commitment to preserve the interests of the three states. Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said that al-Sisi reiterated that the talks should also continue pursuant to previous "understandings" reached between him and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn during earlier talks in March. The president emphasised "the importance of working towards meeting the needs of the people of the three states," the spokesman added. The tripartite committee of water ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan held its eighth round of discussions on August 20-21 in Addis Ababa. The three countries agreed on tasking the consultancy firms with the completion of their technical proposal by 5 September. This step was recommended by a panel of international experts, who determined in 2013 that Ethiopia's analysis of the dam's impact was inconclusive. The next round of talks is slated to be held in Cairo after the modified technical proposal is reviewed by the group of experts. Egypt has repeatedly voiced anxiety over the affect of the dam on its water supply. When finished, the dam will have a 74 billion cubic metre reservoir on the Nile's largest tributary. But Addis Ababa has repeatedly stated that the 6,000 MW dam, which will be Africa's biggest hydro station, will not harm the downstream countries of Egypt and Sudan. Source: Ahram Online
