Ethiopia's Right of Reply on Nile River Dispute at UNGA 80th Session

Ethiopia's Right of Reply to Egypt

• 🇪🇹 Ethiopia exercised its right of reply to address unfounded claims made by the Egyptian delegate concerning the Nile River.
• 💡 Ethiopia's position is based on truth and a clear understanding of Egypt's claims, emphasizing a principled stance on water utilization.

The Nile River and Cooperation

• 💧 The Nile River is presented as a natural bond connecting Ethiopia, Egypt, and nine other Nile basin countries.
• 🤝 Ethiopia advocates for basin-wide cooperation and adherence to the international law principle of equitable and reasonable utilization.
• 🇪🇬 In contrast, Egypt is described as insisting on its historical rights and pushing for colonial-era bilateral agreements that grant it unfettered authority.

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

• 🏗️ Ethiopia is building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to develop water resources and ensure human rights for its people, including access to clean water, food, and electricity.
• 🇪🇬 Egypt is accused of denying these necessities by seeking to maintain a perpetual colonial status, using its own terms like "oases for development."
• 🏛️ Ethiopia states it consulted and involved Egypt in the GERD decision-making processes from design to operation.
• ⚠️ The Aswan Dam, built by Egypt, is cited as an example of a project that flooded civilizations and destroyed livelihoods, unlike GERD.

Negotiations and Regional Stability

• ⚖️ Ethiopia claims Egypt has sought unreasonable concessions in negotiations without a genuine desire for a win-win solution, focusing instead on recognizing its colonial-era entitlements.
• 🌍 Ethiopia is committed to regional peace, integration, and economic development, working alongside its neighbors.
• 🚫 Egypt is accused of disrupting regional efforts by shipping arms, supporting belligerents, and hindering diplomatic solutions.

Internationalization of the Nile Dispute

• 🗣️ Ethiopia views Egypt's attempt to internationalize the GERD issue as exploiting the UN platform for narrow political purposes and covering up national and regional preoccupations.
• 📈 Ethiopia encourages Egypt to play a constructive role in building a future of shared prosperity.