Al-Burhan Informed on Developments on Renaissance Dam Negotiations
Khartoum, Jan. 11 (SUNA) – President of the Sovereignty Council, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, received in his office Monday the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Prof. Yasser Abbas, and the Foreign Minister, Omer Gamar-Eddin, and got informed on the developments regarding the negotiations on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and reason on stalling of the recent round of negotiations.
In a press statement, Prof. Abbas said that Sudan’s position is based on the necessity of giving the African Union the role of facilitator through the experts chosen by the union, adding that the negotiations in the past period were of no use, because they were taking place directly between the three countries, whose positions are different since the beginning, therefore Sudan constantly insists that the African Union play shall play its normal role as a facilitator for the negotiation process. The Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources has affirmed Sudan welcome to the initial draft agreement prepared by the experts and demanded that there shall be a clear reference on the next step, suggesting that countries shall express their remarks on the draft agreement in bilateral meetings with experts so that they can prepare the second version of the draft. The minister pointed to Sudan protest to the African Union and Ethiopia for its continuation to the filling for the second year at level of 13 billion cubic meters without an agreement, a matter which is considered a violation of International Law and represents a direct threat to the operation of Rossaires Dam and a threat to the citizens who live behind it. Prof. Abbas affirmed Sudan confidence that negotiation is considered the best solution for the problem of the Renaissance Dam through a fair and just agreement for all parties. On his part, the Foreign Minister, Omer Gamar-Eddin pointed out that Sudan has returned to the Renaissance Dam negotiations with the hope that there will be a greater role for the African Union experts in accordance with the slogan of “African solutions for the problems of the continent” and that the union shall help more in creating conditions for the work of experts and their tasks concerning the Renaissance Dam. He indicated that Sudan has presented conditions to the Republic of South Africa, on its capacity as the current chairmen of the African Union, on the return to effective negotiations, adding that Sudan will engage in serious work to clarify its vision with the hope that the new session of the African Union next February will witness another round of negotiations to achieve what Sudan aspires for, otherwise there will be options regarding this file. MO
