The marathon of negotiations that is being held between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has moved closer to the finish line after the three parties –  Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan – agreed a stage-based filling timetable for the dam’s reservoir and two mechanisms for handling periods of drought.

Following the meeting held in Russia, Ethiopia and Egypt have agreed to cool down the tension that arose between the two countries over the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), The Reporter has learnt.

Delivering her a speech in Amharic at the 74th session of the United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA), the first Ethiopian president do so in UNGA, Sahle-Work Zewdie reflected Ethiopia’s stance with regards to the Egyptian President’s earlier speech dwelling on the longstanding tripartite negotiations over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is being constructed on the Nile River, the longest river in the world.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Ethiopia, Nebiat Getachew said that the proposal tabled by Egypt regarding the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia is constructing over the Nile River, stands in stark contrast to Ethiopia’s national interest and puts country’s sovereignty under question. Ethiopia has been constructing the 6,000MW Dam over the Nile River since 2011.

Pushing towards growth and development, the Government of Ethiopia said that it will continue to maintain its position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), despite Egypt’s unwavering attempts to pressure Ethiopia particularly on the length of time allotted to fill the dam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (MoFA) told The Reporter.

As Ethiopia is moving towards the completion of its hydroelectric project, the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), at a cost of USD 4 billion, Egypt is once again calling for an agreement on the issue of the Nile, which has been in prolonged tit-for-tat between both nations.

The second tripartite high-level ministerial meeting between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt was conducted in Addis Ababa on Tuesday. The meeting was concluded after the three countries agreed on major issues that were controversial since the inception of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Meles Alem said that the Foreign Affairs Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukri has continued his trend of offering unhelpful comments on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after the failure of the latest round of Dam talks in Sudan.

The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MoWIE), on Tuesday disclosed that, the planned negotiation between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt will continue this month despite the change in meeting date that was earlier set by the leaders of the three countries.