Second Day Of Tripartite Renaissance Dam Negotiations Starts

Day two of the second round of tripartite negotiations over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam kicked off on Monday in Khartoum.

Representatives from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia met in the Sudanese capital to continue discussing the potential impacts that Ethiopia’s controversial dam will have upon the three countries’ access to the Nile’s water.

Spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Water and Irrigation Ahmed El-Wasief told Ahram Online that previous disagreements between water experts from the three Nile Basin countries are now being discussed in an effort to reach resolutions accepted by all parties to the talks.

“Sudan is currently holding bilateral sessions with the Egyptian and Ethiopian side to settle disputes about the issue,” El-Waseif said.

A meeting with a panel of experts was held on Monday morning to reach an agreement on Egyptian demands – namely, that Ethiopia make certain prior technical guarantees, as well as allowing an international technical committee to inspect the site upon completion.

Among the latest additions to the negotiations is the new Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Moataz Moussa, part of a general reshuffling of the Sudanese cabinet on Sunday which saw the appointment of a new vice president.

In June, Ethiopia’s parliament ratified a treaty allowing upstream countries to implement irrigation and hydropower projects without first seeking Egypt’s approval.

The deal replaces a colonial-era agreement formerly granting Egypt and Sudan the majority of water rights.

Egyptian, Ethiopian and Sudanese water ministers met for the first round of talks on 4 November in Khartoum.

Source : Ahram