Konjit Teshome
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 2nd tripartite talks in Addis Ababa between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan’s foreign and irrigation ministers concluded successfully, according to Ethiopia’s foreign affairs minister Workineh Gebeyehu. After 12 hours talks over GERD issues, the representatives of the three countries, announced that they have reached an agreement to move forward.
‘’The meeting commenced with high spirit and determination to reach on the process forward’’ foreign minister of Ethiopia, Workineh Gebeyehu told reporters after the closed-door talks over.
Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry told reporters on Wednesday, ‘’we have charted a road map that, if successful, will be able to break difficulties that we have been facing.’’
The three countries have agreed mainly on establishing a national independent scientific study group on the filling and operation of the GERD, regularizing the tripartite summit every six month and establishment of infrastructure fund.
Wednesday’s talks came after round of talks last week in Cairo failed. The next high level meetings is set for July 3 in Cairo.
Ethiopia began construction of 6.000 megawatt dam over Nile River in 2011. Recently the country revealed that the construction of the dam reached more than 66 percent.
