The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its total and total rejection of the statement of the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry issued on Friday regarding the decision of the Arab League Council issued on March 4 regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement on Saturday: “The Ethiopian statement was characterized by impropriety, I miss diplomacy, and it involved an unacceptable insult to the League of Arab States and its member states. The adoption by the League of Arab States of a resolution calling on Ethiopia to adhere to the principles of international law applicable and not to take any unilateral measures that would harm Egypt's rights and water interests is only an acknowledgment of the extent to which Ethiopia believes that its interests overwhelm the collective interests of the sovereign states that are members of the League of Arab States Which Ethiopia seeks to dominate ».
The statement added, “The Arab League’s decision reflects disappointment and deep discomfort with Ethiopian positions throughout the course of the negotiations spanning the Renaissance Dam, particularly since the conclusion of the Declaration of Principles agreement in 2015, as the Ethiopian approach indicates an intention to exercise hegemony over the Nile and install itself as one of its beneficiaries. . This was evidenced by Ethiopia's insistence to fill the Renaissance Dam unilaterally in July 2020 without reaching an agreement with my downstream country, in an attempt to make the path of negotiations hostage to internal political considerations, which represents a material breach of the Declaration of Principles agreement and proves beyond any doubt bad faith Ethiopia and its lack of political will to reach a fair and balanced agreement on the Renaissance Dam ».
The statement continued, "The truth of Ethiopia's positions has been clearly demonstrated in its lack of agreement on the agreement to fill and operate the Renaissance Dam prepared by the neutral mediators, the United States of America in coordination with the World Bank. As an expression of its political support, the Arab League welcomed this agreement and invited Ethiopia to review its position and consider signing this agreement. ”
The statement also said: “In the light of its policies during the Renaissance Dam negotiations, Ethiopia does not have the right to give lessons to the League of Arab States or its member states on the ties and ties that unite Arab and African peoples, which are historical ties that Ethiopia cannot determine its content. Ethiopia's positions on the issue of the Renaissance Dam are just another example of its regional approach based on unilateral action, which has harmed and suffered many of our African brothers. From this standpoint, we call on the international community to join the Arab League in realizing the nature of Ethiopia's stubborn policy and imposing the fait accompli, which threatens to harm regional stability and security. We also call on Ethiopia to confirm its commitment not to start filling the Renaissance Dam without an agreement, and to agree to the agreement prepared by the neutral mediators. ”
The ministry confirmed at the end of the statement that there is still time to reach a balanced solution to the issue of the Renaissance Dam, which secures the common interests of all parties and provides a historic opportunity to write a new chapter of cooperation between the riparian states of the Blue Nile, and called for seizing this opportunity for the benefit of 240 million citizens in Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.