Zirhon Abebe, a member of the Ethiopian negotiating team on the Renaissance Dam file, came out recently to confirm that it is impossible to stop the mobilization, especially since the two downstream countries accepted the rules of filling and construction in accordance with the Agreement of Principles, in March 2015 in Khartoum.
What does the agreement of principles that strengthens Ethiopia’s back and tone stipulate in talking about the start of the second filling of the dam, regardless of reaching a tripartite agreement with Egypt and Sudan?
The text of the agreement of principles signed in Khartoum in 2015
Agreement on a Declaration of Principles between the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Sudan regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project on March 23, 2015.
Preamble
In recognition of the growing need of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Republic of Sudan for their transboundary water resources, and in recognition of the importance of the Nile River as a source of life and a vital source for the development of the peoples of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, the three countries committed themselves to the following principles regarding the Renaissance Dam:
1 The principle of cooperation
Cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding, mutual benefit, goodwill, win-win, and principles of international law.
Cooperation in understanding the water needs of upstream and downstream countries in their various aspects.
2- The principle of development, regional integration and sustainability
The purpose of the Renaissance Dam is to generate energy, contribute to economic development, and promote cross-border cooperation and regional integration through the generation of clean, sustainable and reliable energy.
3- The principle of not causing significant harm
The three countries will take all appropriate measures to avoid causing significant harm through their use of the Blue Nile/Main River.
Despite this, in the event of significant harm to a country, the country that caused this harm must - in the absence of an agreement regarding this act - take all appropriate measures in coordination with the affected country to mitigate or prevent this harm, and discuss the issue of compensation whenever it is That's appropriate.
The principle of fair and appropriate use
The three countries will use their shared water resources in their territories in an equitable and appropriate manner.
To ensure their fair and appropriate use, the three countries will consider all relevant guiding elements below, but not limited to:
A- Geographical, hydrogeographic, climatic, environmental and other elements of a natural character.
b- The social and economic needs of the concerned basin countries.
C - The population that depends on water resources in each of the basin countries.
D- Effects of the use or uses of water resources in one of the basin countries on the other basin countries.
e- The current and potential uses of water resources, the factors of conservation, protection and development, the economics of using water resources, and the cost of the measures taken in this regard.
g- The availability of alternatives of comparable value for a planned or specified use.
H- The extent to which each of the basin countries contributes to the Nile River system.
i- Extension and percentage of the basin area within the territory of each of the basin states.
5- The principle of cooperation in the first filling and management of the dam
Implementing the recommendations of the International Committee of Experts, and respecting the final outputs of the final report of the Tripartite Committee of Experts on the studies recommended in the final report of the International Committee of Experts during the various stages of the project.
The three countries use, in a spirit of cooperation, the final outputs of the joint studies recommended in the report of the International Committee of Experts and agreed upon by the Tripartite Committee of Experts, in order to:
* Agreeing on the guidelines and rules for the first filling of the Renaissance Dam, which will include all the different scenarios, in parallel with the process of building the dam.
* Agreeing on the guidelines and rules for the annual operation of the Renaissance Dam, which the owner of the dam may adjust from time to time.
* Notifying the downstream countries of any unforeseen or emergency circumstances that require resetting the operation of the dam.
To ensure continued cooperation and coordination in the issue of operating the Renaissance Dam with the reservoirs of the two downstream countries, the three countries will establish, through the ministries concerned with water, an appropriate coordination mechanism between them.
The time frame for the implementation of the above-mentioned process will take 15 months since the beginning of the preparation of the two studies recommended by the international panel of experts.
6- The principle of building trust
Downstream countries will have priority in purchasing the energy generated by the Renaissance Dam.
7- The principle of information and data exchange
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will provide the data and information necessary to conduct the joint studies of the Committee of National Experts, in a spirit of good faith and in a timely manner.
8- The principle of safety of the dam
The three countries appreciate the efforts made by Ethiopia so far to implement the recommendations of the International Committee of Experts related to the safety of the dam.
Ethiopia will complete, in good faith, the full implementation of the recommendations regarding the safety of the dam contained in the report of the International Committee of Experts.
9- The principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state
The three countries will cooperate on the basis of equal sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual benefit and goodwill, for the purpose of achieving the optimum use and appropriate protection of the river.
10 The principle of peaceful settlement of disputes
The three countries shall settle their disputes arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement by consensus through consultations or negotiations in accordance with the principle of good faith.
If the parties do not succeed in resolving the dispute through consultations or negotiations, they may jointly request conciliation, mediation or refer the matter to the attention of Heads of State/Head of Government.
This Agreement on the Declaration of Principles was signed in Khartoum, Sudan on March 23, 2015 between the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Sudan;
For the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Hilaryam Desalegn, Prime Minister, and for the Republic of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic.
*** The text was published on the website of the State Information Service in Egypt on Wednesday, September 13, 2017.