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Enduring diplomacy witnessing fruition of GERD
Fekadu Wubete
Egypt Today had on December 18, 2017 reported that Egyptian parliamentary majority bloc had welcomed the visit of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Haile-Mariam Desalgne, to deliver a speech in the Egyptian Parliament. The majority bloc statement came after news that some parliament members were planning to hinder the Primer’s appearance in the parliament.
To the chagrin of some unsuccessful parliamentarians, majority parliamentary bloc controlling 350 seats at the Egyptian Parliament had green lighted his visit as an opportunity to improve relations between Egypt and Ethiopia. They said his briefing will help strengthen the ties of the two countries, particularly when viewed from the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The spokesman for Egyptian Parliamentarians, Salah Hasballah, had confirmed that the role of parliament and popular diplomacy must be activated towards improving the situation regarding the Renaissance Dam( had it been, the rejection of the visit to address the Egyptian parliament might have strained the relation of the two countries and potentially undermined those diplomatic efforts that are used for enhancing relation).
Commendably, Hasballah had added that the attitude of those who attempted to reject the visit represent “a fake heroism”, while real heroism is built on taking responsibility and conducting extensive and high-level dialogues with the Ethiopian side; in order to forge win-win solution Egypt’s rights in the waters of the Nile and break the stalemate that has been entrenched over Nile.
Let alone the current visit of PM Haile-Mariam to Egypt, the diplomatic campaign of Ethiopia aimed to support the construction of GERD has endured many challenges since its commencement. It is worth remembering that unwise Egyptian political party members were colluding to destroy the GERD in an open television discussion, unseen in history one country openly conniving to destroy the infrastructure of the other.
Now, things have changed, albeit slowly and reluctantly. Through time, many progressive changes are being observed. Many Egyptian scholars and politicians (even propagandists) are being seen developing interest towards the spirit of Nile cooperation, GERD and joining CFA .
Currently, far better than the era of Mubarek, Egyptian politicians are expressing the notion of cooperation on various forums. Particularly, the sense of civilized diplomacy and negotiation is strengthening with time following the election of President Abdul Fatah alsisi. And the current visit of Ethiopian PM that defies the opposition of some unheeding Egyptian parliamentarians is a living example that depicts outshining diplomatic relation which is strengthening with time.
And now it can be said that Egypt has somehow come to understand, at least in principle, the very fact that Nile Cooperation is beneficial to all Nile Riparian countries(though, it is still arguing that the 1929 and the 1959 agreements should also be considered when making negotiations related to GERD and Nile Cooperation).
Ethiopia will continue to use its legitimate and fair share of the Nile waters in line with international law; to meet the electricity and economic demand of its current and future generations. To this end, it will continue its cooperate with Sudan and Egypt, beside accelerating the construction of the GERD.
It is clear that countries like Ethiopia may not be coerced to accept colonial agreements that were not part of national agreement. In addition, this modern time calls for GERD and Nile cooperation, mutual benefit and solving Nile impasse through diplomatic gambit. Moreover, the GERD is being funded only by Ethiopians and it does not need to get permission from anyone to use its own natural resources.
Cooperation is the foundation of the International Water Law. The UN Convention on Water-courses mentioned the word “cooperation” and its derivatives 15 times. According to this Convention, cooperation is based on the principle of equitable and reasonable benefits.
In line with this, Oregon State University Water Conflict Management and Transformation Center stated that “two thirds of the time we do anything over shared water, we cooperate“. That is hugely important. However, it noted, politicians often threatened to take to the battlefield over water turfs (like Egyptian politicians and propagandists boasting of the various options on the table). But the last formal war over water had been fought in 2,500 B.C. between two Sumerian city-States contesting the Tigris Basin. The center had found that water conflicts among nations are less likely than is cooperation, with hundreds of treaties and agreements in place. Water conflicts tend to arise as an outcome of other social issues.
Since then, more than 3,600 water-related treaties governing boundary demarcation and navigation had proven to be resilient over time, even when cross-border conflicts raging. Similarly, history had it that the Indus River Commission had survived two wars between India and Pakistan, among others.
Conflicts over water, the world’s most precious resource, have been at the heart of regional instability, but they could be a catalyst for cooperation and peace if managed properly. The problem is that water has often been managed unilaterally and thus inefficiently, and is used to exacerbate tensions.
Water itself did not respect political boundaries, but governments used man-made borders to protect their sovereignty, economies and nationalities. Furthermore, policy discussions over water issues focused too much on global trends and solutions, while neglecting the regional and sub-regional water disputes that were a real security concern, responsible for poverty, disease and degradation in many parts of the world.
Seeing that water could not be a source of conflict, Ethiopia wants to build the trust of downstream countries on Nile Cooperation and the GERD, enhance the awareness of mutual benefit, peaceful-coexistence and resolve the impasse on Nile in constructive and amicable way.
Ethiopia believes that the GERD has enabled to invigorate diplomatic relation between Nile basin countries. No doubt, the saga of disagreement will end soon, and the stalemate between upper and lower Nile riparian countries will be broken by the strengthened effort of diplomacy (particularly, between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt).
To this end, diplomatic activities targeted to boost the consensus of Nile riparian countries about the Nile Cooperation and GERD will continue, particularly to make Egypt understand the fact that the interest of Ethiopia is development and poverty alleviation based on equitable use of Nile water.
Indisputably, nation will keep on its untiring effort to enhance Nile cooperation, win the trust of all Nile basin countries, finalize the construction of the GERD and employ it for electric generation. The call to mutual benefit and equitable use of Nile will continue endlessly, parallel to prioritizing development agenda and executing poverty alleviation projects like the GERD.
Currently, it could be said that the diplomatic effort of Ethiopia is taking roots in the international arena. Likewise, the relation of Nile riparian countries is going in an encouraging pace and Ethiopia is expressing commitment to strengthen it and establish cooperation on rock-solid foundation.
GERD diplomacy has started to become rewarding, slowly but surely. Hence, the issue of Nile Cooperation and the GERD is becoming the number one agenda of Nile basin countries. Egypt has also started to accept the idea of sharing the water of Nile in an equitable manner and its leaders are commending on the importance cooperation. A case in point, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had stated so many times on the importance of building consensus and trust between Ethiopia and Egypt.
Similarly, tireless diplomatic effort of Ethiopia has enabled to gain the support of Sudan towards the Dam. Earlier, tremendous effort had been exerted to publicize about the benefit of the Dam to regional development, integration and make Sudan detach from its deep-rooted stand that was established on colonial agreements.
As reflected by the comments of its higher officials and parliamentarians, Egypt has currently showed keen interest to undertake continuous discussions and forge cooperation with Ethiopia. Many Egyptian scholars, leaders and parliamentarians have called for negotiation and thoroughly discussion. They have said that Ethiopia has the right to build the GERD but the water share of Egypt has to be secured. And the current trend could be taken as a fertile ground to diplomacy and positive relation to be strengthened through negotiation.
Hence, it is possible to say that Egypt has come to understand the importance of negotiation and cooperation, unlike its previous stand that completely snubbed negotiation with upper riparian countries).
What so ever the case, Ethiopia is interested to build the trust of Egypt that it has no intention to hurt the interest of Egypt, except generating electricity with the water of Nile. Its GERD diplomacy has been as strong and consistent as ever and it has started fruition, slowly but surely. Currently, the relation of Nile riparian countries is going in an encouraging pace (compared to time during the start of GERD construction) and sturdy GERD diplomacy has contributed its own to the current positive development.
Currently, Ethiopia is expressing commitment to strengthen diplomatic relation and establish cooperation on rock-solid foundation. Ethiopia’s firm belief is to build the trust of all Nile Basin countries on Nile Cooperation and the GERD, enhance the modus operandi of mutual benefit, peaceful-coexistence and resolve the standoff on Nile in constructive and amicable way. Hence, diplomatic activities used to boost the consensus of Nile riparian countries about Nile Cooperation and the GERD will be reinforced more than ever.
