President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said the recently signed Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a “powerful commitment to clearer understanding and better coordination,” in a Monday meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa.
“Sisi noted that the Declaration of Principles signed in Khartoum was an important first step on the path toward greater cooperation between the three countries, which requires the conclusion of agreements to clarify and operationalize all its aspects,” said Egyptian Presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef in a statement.
Sisi inked the agreement with his Sudanese Counterpart Omar al-Bashir and Desalegn on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Monday in Khartoum, the first agreement between Ethiopia and Egypt on the controversial dam since its construction began in 2010.
The construction of dam has been a high priority issue for Egypt’s government, which has raised concerns it would negatively affect its water supply. Ethiopia has claimed the dam is necessary for its development; both states agreed to tripartite talks that started in August 2014 and were hosted by Sudan.
On March 6 during tripartite Khartoum talks, ministers of three countries reached a preliminary agreement on the operation of Renaissance Dam.
During the meeting, Desalegn said cooperation among the three countries should extend more broadly to realize development and prosperity for the people, the statement continued.
