Ethiopia, Egypt vow to strengthen ties despite Nile differences
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
July 8, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Egypt on Wednesday reaffirm willingness to continue cooperation and to further strengthen their long standing ties despite differences created on the matters of the Nile waters.
The joint remarks comes after Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abou Al-Gheit, and Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abou Al-Naga on Wednesday hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa on the matter of Nile River water as well as on the controversial new Nile water sharing treaty signed between five Nile Basin countries.
In Mid May, Four upstream countries signed a new treaty in the Ugandan town of Entebbe on the equitable sharing of the Nile waters despite strong opposition from Egypt and Sudan who benefit the lion’s share of the river waters.
Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania signed the new framework then while Kenya later joined the treaty.
The upstream countries want to be able to implement irrigation and hydropower projects in consultation with Egypt and Sudan, but without Cairo being able to exercise the veto power it was given by a 1929 colonial-era treaty with Britain.
According to a higher official from the ministry of foreign affairs, the discussion between the two sides yesterday was centered on this signed Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA).
During their discussion, Meles told the ministers, as Nile River is a strong bond for the people of Ethiopia and Egypt; their relations should be tuned within this spirit.
The two countries should build confidence on issues of their differences and should continue their relations, Meles said.
He noted that despite their differences Ethiopia and Egypt should work together on issues of the same stands.
Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on his part told reporters that they held fruitful discussion with PM Meles.
He said the two countries are willing to further strengthen the existing relations.
According to the official Ethiopian News agency, The Egyptian foreign Minister Ahmed Abou Al-Gheit have also conferred with his Ethiopian counterpart Seyoum Mesfin on the effective implementation of Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) of Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).
Foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin said that his country Ethiopia will strenuously work for the effective implementation of Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) of Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).
In a joint press briefing they gave after their discussion Seyoum said the negotiation of NBI has been taking place in the last ten years in a good faith by all riparian countries.
“This is a work in progress and we are hoping that we would continue negotiation to bridge the gap that exists in different capitals. … because it is possible to achieve a win-win scenario” he said.
Seyoum noted that bring all the riparian counties are possible as the negotiation aims to avoid unfair benefits for few riparian countries and to ensure mutual benefits from the resource.
Ethiopia will continue negotiation with the riparian countries to use the water resource reasonably for development, he said.
He said no one would be left disadvantageous as all the riparian countries want to use the resource in a reasonable manner as they want get advantage and development.
In fact, Seyoum said some countries have different stands on the CFA but the negotiation will continue for common benefits and concerns of the riparian countries.
“All the people in the riparian countries share civilization, culture, people, even beyond that destiny and future. Let’s capitalize on that” Seyoum noted.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed on his part said his discussion with Seyoum centered on as to how ensure win-win situation on Nile River.
(ST)