Ethiopia wants to start filling its Renaissance Dam on the Nile River in 2020, a process that will not affect the downstream nation of Egypt, the country’s ambassador to Russia, Alemayehu Tegenu, said on Monday.
“We want to start the dam filing in 2020, during the wet season. It is already agreed.
“When we start the dam filling, that does not mean Egyptians will be affected by that filling, because we follow the state dam filling, the strategy is already there.
“You do not fill the dam at once; it needs certain time, four to seven years. It will be monitored very carefully from the Ethiopian side,” Tegenu said.
Speaking about possible international mediators, who could help promote progress in the long-lasting negotiations, the ambassador said that there was no need for one.
“We do not need any mediator at this time. This is an African issue. We will solve African problems among Africans,” Tegenu said.
He added that the dam’s construction was already 70 per cent completed.
Similarly, Ethiopia would be very happy to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country’s ambassador to Russia, Alemayehu Tegenu, said.
During his visit to Russia in September, 2019 Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Gedu Andargachew, invited Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov to come to Ethiopia.
“From our side we are ready anytime to receive our guest Lavrov. Prime minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, also invited President Vladimir Putin to Ethiopia.
“We will be very happy to receive our Russian guests … We would be very happy if His Excellency the Russian President visits Africa,” the ambassador said.
Putin has never been on an official visit to Ethiopia.
