Egypt and Ethiopia to review Nile river dam

[Jefferson23]

Egypt says Ethiopia's planned Nile project "could be source of benefit" as two countries open new chapter in relations.

Last Modified: 17 Sep 2011 16:14


Ethiopia and Egypt have agreed to review the impact of a planned $4.8bn Nile river dam, which Addis Ababa announced in March, in a bid to open a "new chapter" in once-strained relations.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his Egyptian counterpart, Essam Sharaf, made the announcement at a joint news conference following talks in Cairo on Saturday.

"We have agreed to quickly establish a tripartite team of technical experts to review the impact of the dam that is being built in Ethiopia," Zenawi said. Experts from Sudan will also be part of the team.

Sharaf said Ethiopia's planned construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam "could be a source of benefit" - an apparent change in tone by Egypt's new rulers on what has been a highly contentious issue.

"We can make the issue of the Grand Renaissance Dam something useful," Sharaf said. "This dam, in conjunction with the other dams, can be a path for development and construction between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt."

'Win-win strategy'

Zenawi thanked Sharaf "for helping in opening a new chapter of relations between Egypt and Ethiopia".

"We all agree that the Nile is a bridge, it is not a barrier," Zenawi said.

in full: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/2011917132445980153.html