Egypt-Ethiopia Meeting Delayed To November For Further Preparations

A ministerial Egyptian-Ethiopian commission delayed its first meeting, initially planned for Wednesday, to November to make room for more preparations, in yet another series of talks over the disputed Grand Renaissance Dam.

Bilateral relations between Egypt and Ethiopia have improved after months of strained ties over the dam Ethiopia is building, which Egypt says will affect its share of the Nile’s water.

In the latest meeting in Cairo last week, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to receive offers from consultancy firms in order to choose one to conduct more studies on the dam’s possible effects.

Egypt’s state news agency MENA said that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry and his Ethiopian counterpart on Wednesday discussed the logistical preparations for the commission to ensure the best outcome for both countries.

The commission meetings will take place from 1-3 November, MENA said, after initially being planned for 22 October. Both sides decided to postpone it to give time for more preparations.

The commission will include the two countries’ ministers of foreign affairs, irrigation and agriculture, investment, trade, transport and electricity.

Other meetings between Egyptian and Ethiopian businessmen are expected to take place.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Ethiopia’s prime minister at the African Summit and then later in the United States at the United Nations General Assembly. El-Sisi said he intends to visit Ethiopia for more talks, but hasn’t set a date for the visit yet.

Source : Ahram online