Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said that Addis Ababa wants to resume tripartite negotiations on the Renaissance Dam within the African framework, stressing that the Renaissance Dam will benefit downstream countries and that the approach aimed at benefiting only one party is unacceptable.
The Ethiopian minister stressed that Addis Ababa thwarted what he described as the agendas of suspicion and threat raised by various parties regarding the GERD project.
The project is nearing completion, he said, "thanks to the unity of Ethiopians behind the dam and their financial and moral support for it".
He explained that the total donations and bond purchases from Ethiopians for the benefit of the Renaissance Dam amounted to $ 400 million over the past 12 years since the foundation stone of the project was laid, calling on Ethiopians to continue their support to complete the construction of the dam with innovative and creative ideas and works.
Yesterday, Ethiopia announced its rejection of what it called Egypt's attempts to internationalize the Renaissance Dam file, and a spokesman for its foreign ministry said that the Nile water is a special file for the basin countries.
He added that his country seeks to make the Renaissance Dam an integrated project between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia so that everyone wins.
The Ethiopian spokesman pointed out that the three previous filling operations of the dam did not cause any damage to the downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, stressing Ethiopia's right to use its natural resources and complete the construction of the dam so that its people see the light, as he put it.
Egypt has warned of the economic, social and environmental dangers of unilateral moves on shared river basins, referring to the Renaissance Dam.
Egyptian Irrigation Minister Hani Swailem said in remarks at the United Nations about a week ago that the process of construction, filling and initiation of the operation of the Renaissance Dam continues unilaterally, in violation of international law, and that it could represent an existential and catastrophic danger to about 150 million people.
The Ethiopian authorities announced on Friday that 90% of the construction of the Renaissance Dam had been completed, despite what they described as the challenges and diplomatic pressures they faced and the internal war.