CAIRO, August 28, 2018 - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service (GIS) Major General Abbas Kamel conveyed on Tuesday, a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The message dealt with ways of promoting and enhancing Egyptian-Ethiopian relations, the implementation of what has been agreed upon by the two leaders, the development of negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and several regional issues of mutual concern. Shoukri and Kamel expressed the keenness of the Egyptian side on strengthening Egyptian-Ethiopian relations in all fields in a way that fulfils the aspirations of the peoples of both countries. The two senior officials praised the constructive steps and initiatives adopted by the Ethiopian prime minister to boost stability and peace in the East African region. They discussed with the Ethiopian PM the development of the tripartite negotiations related to the GERD, in the light of the mutual concern to put into effect the Declaration of Principles agreement signed in 2015 and the recommendations of the latest nine-party meeting which was held in Addis Ababa in May 2018. During the meeting, the top officials and the PM confirmed the importance of pushing forward the ongoing negotiations and eliminating any hurdles to ensure the required understanding on the GERD project is reached, in a way that guarantees that Ethiopia's development goals are met and Egypt's water security is safeguarded. The Egyptian delegates and the Ethiopian PM confirmed their keenness on implementing the tripartite fund for financing development and investment projects in Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The fund also has the aim of increasing Egyptian investments in Ethiopia as well as the volume of trade. They discussed the developments in the Horn of Africa and the ongoing efforts to enhance security, stability and peace in the region, in the light of Egypt taking over the chairmanship of the African Union, early next year. The senior Egyptian officials and the Ethiopian PM also discussed preparations for the summit between President Sisi and Ethiopian PM Ahmed, on the sidelines of the China/African forum in Beijing, early in September.
