Nile Dam politics: Egypt, Ethiopian officials meet

The foreign ministers of Egypt and Ethiopia are meeting in Addis Ababa in an effort to defuse tensions over a huge dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River.

June 17, 2013
Nile Dam politics: Egypt, Ethiopian officials meet
Nile Dam politics: Egypt, Ethiopian officials meet

 


Map of the river Nile locating the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia. A section of the river has been diverted to complete construction of the huge dam which is worrying downstream countries dependent on the river for water.

 


 


ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The foreign ministers of Egypt and Ethiopia are meeting in Addis Ababa in an effort to defuse tensions over a huge dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River. Dina Mufti, a spokesman for the Ethiopia’s foreign ministry, says Ethiopia wants Egypt to understand that the dam is not going to harm Egypt “in any way.” The two ministers had a news conference scheduled for Monday morning but it was cancelled.



Egypt and Ethiopia began a sharp exchange of words after Ethiopia last month started to divert Nile waters as part of the construction of its massive $4.2 billion hydro-electric project dubbed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt fears the dam will mean a diminished share of the Nile, which provides almost all of the desert nation’s water needs. – AP


June 17, 2013
HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
18 minutes ago

Saudi FM calls for all measures to break Gaza blockade as Palestinians are subjected to unprecedented genocide

Opinion
39 minutes ago

Stability first: Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic message to the world

World
2 hours ago

Four journalists among 15 dead in Israeli strike on hospital, Gaza officials say