Feltman Begins Regional Tour Next Week to Discuss GERD Issue
Asharq Alawsat
Washington, Cairo - Heba el-Koudsy, Mohammed Abdo Hasanein
US President Joe Biden will dispatch US special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman to the region next week to try resolve regional conflicts, including the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Biden announced in a statement that Feltman is leading a renewed US diplomatic effort to help peacefully resolve the interlinked conflicts across the region, including GERD, ensuring that it meets the needs of all parties. “Special Envoy Feltman will return to the region next week and keep me apprised of his progress,” read the statement. The President’s decision comes amid fears and increased warnings concerning Ethiopia’s intransigence and insistence on launching the second filling phase during July and August, despite all the Egyptian and Sudanese warnings against the step. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi warned Ethiopia against “imposing a fait accompli”, stressing the imperative need to reach a “fair and balanced agreement” regulating the filling and operation of the dam. On Thursday, Sisi visited Djibouti and discussed with his counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh, recent development as part of Egyptian diplomatic attempts to build more African alliances amid an ongoing water dispute with Ethiopia. Sisi’s visit to Djibouti is the first by an Egyptian president since its independence in 1977. The meeting also discussed various issues relating to joint cooperation and ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly on the security, military, and economic levels. During a joint press conference, Sisi stressed that a fair and balanced agreement strengthens the bonds of cooperation and integration between the countries and peoples of the region. According to official statements, Ethiopia’s plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dam’s reservoir is a threat to Egypt and Sudan. Sisi pledged to provide the necessary support to increase Egyptian investments in Djibouti and allow Egyptian companies to contribute to infrastructure projects, in addition to facilitating the entry of more exports to the Djiboutian market. He agreed with Guelleh on accelerating measures to build an Egyptian logistics zone in Djibouti to facilitate the exports of Egyptian goods and promote economic cooperation and also to increase cooperation in the fields of transport and health, along with fish farming. The two leaders also agreed on intensifying efforts in combating extremist ideologies and training preachers, according to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency. Egypt and Djibouti would intensify cooperation on matters related to the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait to ensure security and economic development in the region, especially as the two countries face the same challenges and share the same vision in this regard. On Wednesday, two Egyptian military aid planes carrying food and medical aid landed in Djibouti to support the African state and help it face current challenges.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2996351/feltman-begins-regional-tour-next-week-discuss-gerd-issue
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