The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that the triple ministerial meeting regarding the "Renaissance Dam," held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on September 23 and 24, did not lead to any significant progress. The ministry noted that this concluding round of negotiations witnessed a regression by Ethiopia regarding several agreements previously reached among the three countries within the negotiation framework.
The meeting, which took place with delegations from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, ended on Sunday evening. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation mentioned that Ethiopia continues to reject any proposed compromises as well as internationally agreed technical arrangements that would meet Ethiopian interests concerning the "Renaissance Dam," without infringing upon the rights and interests of the downstream countries.
Furthermore, he stated that the Egyptian delegation remains committed to negotiating seriously based on clear parameters aimed at reaching a legally binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the "Renaissance Dam" in a manner that preserves national interests and protects water security and uses for Egypt, while also achieving the interests of all three countries, including the declared Ethiopian interests.
He emphasized that it is now essential to demonstrate the political will and seriousness necessary to swiftly reach a legally binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the "Renaissance Dam," within the timeframe agreed upon by the three countries following the meeting between the leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia on July 13. He also pointed out the existence of various technical and legal solutions that could lead to the desired agreement that takes into account the interests of all parties involved.
