Conversations > Third Party Interactions

Like any compromise text that is fair and balanced, the agreement formulated by the U.S. and the World Bank is imperfect and does not completely satisfy Egypt’s needs. Nonetheless, given its genuine political commitment to reach an agreement, and in light of the fact that the text prepared by the international mediators is equitable and mutually beneficial, Egypt opted to initial this agreement. On the other hand, Ethiopia rejected this text and declared that it will unilaterally commence the filling of the GERD in breach of its obligations under the 2015 DoP.

Egypt unilaterally requested the United States Government to get involved in the negotiation on the GERD. As the owner of the Dam, Ethiopia, in good faith and to show flexibility accommodated the persistent demands of Egypt and agreed to have the US and the World Bank as observers.

Sudan also believes that the three countries can bring about the necessary, fair and just agreement. Therefore, despite being an important member of the Arab League, Sudan declined to endorse a resolution by the Arab League on the issue of the GERD. Sudan felt, despite the body’s good intentions, that the resolution will be counterproductive to the process and not in the best interest of encouraging finding a solution to the pending issues that is acceptable to all three countries.

In a further demonstration of its genuine political will to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, Egypt invited neutral third parties to participate in the negotiations and express its readiness to accept any compromise formulas or agreements proposed by those impartial parties.

Acordingly, Egypt calls upon the international community to impress upon Ethiopia the importance of engaging, in a spirit of good faith, in negotiations to conclude an agreement on GERD within the upcoming months and to refrain from taking any unilateral action, including the execution of the second filling during the flood season that will begin during the summer of 2021, until an agreement is conclude.

With the active engagement of the international community, a fair and balanced agreement can be reached on GERD that unlocks the potential for cooperation between our three countries and that charts a new course for the entire Nile Basin and East Africa.

I am writing the present letter to communicate Ethiopia’s position on the unacceptable interference by the League of Arab States that addressed the Security Council and the General Assembly on the matter of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The League of Arab States is reputed for its unfettered and unconditional support for any claim that Egypt has presented on the issue of the Nile. However, it is a cause of great disappointment for the League to take this approach and address the United Nations on a matter that does not fall within its purview. Ethiopia rejects the unwelcome meddling by the League of Arab States. It also risks undermining the friendly and cooperative relations between the African Union and the Arab League.

The Ministry reaffirmed that the State of Kuwait supports international efforts to resolve and bring to an end this important and sensitive issue, stressing that the international community, in coordination with the African Union and the League of Arab States, must intensify its efforts to commence negotiations among Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia in order to arrive at solution that conforms to the principles of international law and international conventions, as well as to preserve the interests and rights of those States and the States of the Nile Basin and to realize the aspirations of the peoples of the region by reaching a lasting and comprehensive solution.