Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia to form legal committee, resume GERD talks – Egypttoday

Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia to form legal committee, resume GERD talks – Egypttoday

CAIRO - 27 June 2020: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia agreed, Thursday on forming an African Union-sponsored committee grouping legal and technical experts from the three countries to draft a final binding deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and avoid any unilateral action including the dam's filling before finalizing an agreement.

During a virtual mini-summit grouping member states of the Bureau of the African Union Heads of State and Government to discuss the GERD file, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said that Egypt is ready to resume negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopia to reach a fair and balanced agreement on filling and operating GERD.

To ensure successful negotiations, all parties shall pledge not to make any unilateral decisions, as well as halt the dam's filling till reaching an agreement preserving the three countries' interests, Sisi said.

Sisi thanked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for his call to hold such an important summit to address the vital GERD issue that directly affects the lives of millions in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

The president asserted that Egypt aims to reach a fair and balanced agreement that preserves Ethiopia's right to achieve economic development and capability to generate the