Egypt’s Campaigns Cannot Alter Ethiopia’s Sovereign Right Over Its Resources, Says Eustaz Jamal Bashir

Addis ababa: Egypt's campaigns against the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) cannot alter Ethiopia's sovereign right to utilize its natural resources, particularly the Abay River, Eustaz Jamal Bashir said.According to Ethiopian News Agency, Eustaz Jamal stated in an exclusive interview that Egypt's claims and misinformation regarding the GERD represent a continued effort to distort historical and geographical facts. He highlighted that certain voices in Egypt have attempted to challenge Ethiopia's status as the source of the Abay River, despite internationally recognized geographical realities.Eustaz Jamal emphasized that the Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia, and no neighboring country shares its point of origin. He explained that Ethiopia's location in the African highlands means that major transboundary rivers flowing through the region originate within Ethiopian territory, granting Ethiopia a legitimate right to use its water resources for development.Eustaz Jamal stressed that Ethiopia's approa ch is based on cooperation and shared benefits, asserting that the waters of the Abay River can contribute to the development of all riparian countries when managed through dialogue, mutual understanding, and partnership. He noted that the GERD is a development project aimed at supporting Ethiopia's economic growth and improving the livelihoods of its people, while avoiding significant harm to downstream countries.Furthermore, Eustaz Jamal criticized Egypt's efforts to raise the GERD issue at international platforms, including the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and the European Union, stating that such actions have not affected Ethiopia's development aspirations. He mentioned that the international community recognizes Ethiopia's right to undertake development projects, including infrastructure projects on its resources, as long as they do not cause significant harm to others.Regarding Ethiopia's ongoing National Dialogue process, Eustaz Jamal noted its positive progress, with partici pants witnessing its constructive nature firsthand. He mentioned that the dialogue has reached its eighth day and is addressing major national issues related to political, economic, and social reforms, as well as Ethiopia's future direction. The process has addressed over eight major thematic areas involving nearly 4,000 detailed issues, assigned to specialized working groups.He stated that the dialogue is designed to reflect the aspirations of Ethiopia's nearly 130 million citizens by addressing political, economic, religious, and social matters. Eustaz Jamal further underlined the importance of discussions on the effective utilization of Ethiopia's natural resources, particularly water resources like the Abay River and other rivers originating within the country, describing them as key pillars for sustainable development and national prosperity.