The Ethiopian government ridiculed Egypt’s lobby of the international community to stand against the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that is being built on the Abay/Blue Nile river basin. On February 26 Ambassador Dina Mufti, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his weekly press conference told the media that Ethiopia is working to get Egypt back to the negotiating table over technical issues that were halted last month after Egypt raised the prospect of pausing talks until down-stream countries agreed on the details recommendations delivered by a committee made up with members of the three down-stream countries  [Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt]. However, Egypt wants additional issues to be address other than what the three countries previously agreed to. Ethiopia has strongly refused the North African country’s request.  Since then the tripartite discussion has been about implementing the recommendation given by the International Panel of Experts. Currently Egypt is working to lobby countries not only near the river basin but throughout the world.
In the past week Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy, has been very busy, visiting various countries in Europe and Africa to lobby them for their support to halt the project. Ambassador Dina said that Egypt has to focus on cooperation rather than using the major part of the river independently.
“Their campaign to halt the project is unacceptable,” the spokesperson stressed.