Addis Ababa, 20 January 2016 (WIC) –Ethiopian has been working toward the prevalence of trust between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan regarding Ethiopia’s engagement to build the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GRED), GCAO Minister told Turkish News Agency.
Asked whether there are issues that remained unresolved or hidden from the public in recent trios talks about the dam in Khartoum, Getachew Reda, said that the government has been working towards the prevalence of trust between the three countries.
He noted that Ethiopia has been made known that the project has no other purpose but generating electric power, inflicts no significant harm to downstream countries.
Recalling that the GERD is a flagship national project conceived, financed and implemented by the government and people of Ethiopia, Getachew said that the filling of the dam will be carried on according to the timetable of projects.
Ethiopia does not negotiate on its right to make use of the resources in its bosom, he added.
The Minister also categorically dismissed media claims about Ethiopia’s concessions to Egyptian demands concerning the construction of the GERD and filling strategy of the dam.
He said that the rumors and media reports are baseless and unfounded, added Getachew.
Ethiopia’s relation with Egypt has beem improving while the cooperation with Sudan is being upgraded from partnership to integration, he said.
The Minister also briefed AA on the he stability in Somalia emphasized that the international community sees stability in Somalia as having trickle effect in the wider Eastern Africa region and even beyond.
He said that for the first time in decades the international community takes such a common stand on Somalia.
The minister said that though the main challenges were in the areas of the economy and security, there have been a number of efforts to enhance public institutions in Somalia to gets on its feet.
The minister acknowledged the efforts being played by Somalis themselves. He said that they played the biggest role in bringing peace and stability to their country. He also acknowledged the role being played by AMISOM as a significant one.
As a result such concerted efforts between the Somali themselves and its neighbors, most areas in Somalia are cleared from the influence of Al-Shabab as more cities and towns are returning to operate in a normal life setting, he noted.
Concerning the relation between Ethiopia and Somalia, the Minister said that efforts are underway to transform the present cooperation to integration.
In relation to South Sudan, Getachew reiterated that the conflict in South Sudan cannot be resolved through the barrel of the gun.
He added that the IGAD-mediated peace talks are taken to its final episode as warring factions are coming together to implement the peace agreement they signed to form a Transitional Government of National Unity. He noted that both the government and the armed opposition in the country seem to stand on the right track towards fulfilling their commitment now.
Unlike Somalia and South Sudan, Getachew accused the government of Eritrea for trying to create havoc in the region.
He said that we base our claims on tangible evidence and documented events.
The minister said that the government in Asmara is enemy even to its own people as a UN report proves that the government of Eritrea is committing atrocities against its own people.
He added that Eritrea has been identified with activities that support terrorist networks operating in the region.