Ethiopia, Egypt to meet in Washington over dam dispute

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Ethiopia on Thursday responded positively to a call by the U.S. to host a meeting between Ethiopia and Egypt to discuss the former’s $5 billion dam project on the Nile River whose construction has been completed by more than 80%.

The decision came in a press conference where the spokesperson of Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry spoke to local media.

"While Ethiopia accepts a call by the U.S. to host a meeting between the two countries to discuss the Grand Renaissance Dam, its stance on any call that the U.S. mediated talks between the two countries has not changed," the local broadcaster FANA quoted Nebiat Getachew.

Ethiopia therefore confirms its participation for the meeting to be held in Washington on Nov. 6.

Ethiopia has earlier rejected a call by Egypt that the U.S. mediated between the two countries on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has an installed capacity of 6450 megawatts (MW) electricity.

"The U.S. has not offered any service as a mediator but only to host a discussion between the two countries, with whom it has good relations," Nebiat is quoted as saying.

Egypt fears the dam will reduce its traditional share of Nile waters while Ethiopia insists that it needs the GERD hydro power scheme for its much needed development to overcome poverty.