February 18, 2014 (KHARTOUM) –Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti has
criticised Egypt for its handling of a dispute involving the
construction of a massive dam project in Ethiopia, which it has
vehemently opposed over concerns it could disrupt water flows from the
Nile river.
Karti said Egypt was further inflaming the situation by making
critical comments in the media, adding that Sudan would continue its
efforts to bridge the gap between the two countries.
“The position
of Sudan is clear and we have already called on Egyptian officials to
take advantage of the central role that Sudan could play regarding the
crisis, but the arrogance
of the previous government did not allow them
to accept this idea,” he said.
“If there is a room for a role that
Sudan can play then the atmosphere must be clear away from the tensions
and the cries over the media that do more harm than good,” he added.
Karti
and Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir returned home from
Ethiopia on Tuesday from Ethiopia, where they were participating in
celebrations marking the 39th anniversary of the establishment of the
Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Sudan played a key role in
supporting the Ethiopian rebel group, who managed to bring down the
regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.
Bashir also held talks
with Ethiopia’s prime minister Haile-Mariam Desalegn on the sidelines of
the events, which Karti said addressed ways to strengthen bilateral
trade to serve their countries’ interests.
Speaking to reporters
at Khartoum airport following his return, Karti said Ethiopia and Sudan
had agreed to open border crossings and activate existing economic and
trade committees between the two countries.
He denied that Sudan
is taking sides in the dispute over the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam
(EGRD) because of it has joint interests in both nations.
Egypt
fears that the $4.6 billion hydropower plant will diminish its share of
the river’s water flows, arguing its historic water rights must be
maintained.
Ethiopia is the source of about 85% of the Nile’s
water, mainly through rainfall in its highlands, with over 90% of
Egyptians relying on water from the Nile’s flows.
In June, a panel
of international experts tasked with studying the impacts of the
Ethiopian dam on lower riparian countries, including Sudan and Egypt,
found that the dam project will not cause significant harm to either
country.
Cairo remains unconvinced and has sought further studies and consultation with Khartoum and Addis Ababa.
Sudan
angered its Egyptian neighbour to the north by accepting the final
findings and offering to send experts and technicians to help in the
dam’s construction, a move welcomed by Ethiopia.
The Sudanese foreign minister is expected to travel to Cairo in the coming days, local media have reported.
Source: ST
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