Congressman John Garamendi Ask United States to Not to Side on Nile Negotiation

by Addis

United States Congressman John Garamendi ask United States to not to side on Nile dam negotiation

In the letter sent to Steven T. Mnuchin Secretary of the US. Department of the Treasury Congressman John Garamendi asked the United States to act as an impartial party to the discussions on the GERD and should not pick sides.

He said in the letter “I strongly urge you to proceed with caution and act as an honest, impartial broker in the critical discussions between Ethiopia. Egypt, and Sudan regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam GERD”

Read the full letter from the office of Congressman Garamendi below.

March 5. 2020

The Honorable Steven T. Mnuchin
Secretary of the Treasury
US. Department of the Treasury

Dear Secretary Mnuchin,

I am deeply concerned that your efforts to broker a resolution in water rights discussions between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan are headed toward a dead-end. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus, I strongly urge you to proceed with caution and act as an honest, impartial broker in the critical discussions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
As someone who has spent nearly four decades representing communities directly affected by water supply and water rights issues, I can attest that the often fraught and always complicated dynamics of this issue require care till and strategic attention. The implementation of the GERD project has far-reaching economic. political. security. and environmental implications for all of the countries of the Nile Basin.

Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan must come to a solution on the GERD based on the changing hydrology of the Nile river. and these concerns should guide the discussions. You have articulated the goal of your participation in these discussions to be an agreement that “addresses all issues in a balanced and equitable manner.” This goal has not yet been achieved, As you know. Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry withdrew from the latest round of discussions. and has expressed concerns that that the United States is not playing a constructive role in the negotiations.

United States must act as an impartial party to the discussions on the GERD. and should not pick sides. Moreover; U.S. involvement should be informed by extensive consultations with water policy experts, both inside and outside of the U.S. government. I urge you to expand your consultations with water policy experts, and do more to ensure that the concerns of all parties to this discussion are considered. Imposing a political solution to this issue will not work.

JOHN GARAMENDI

Member of Congress

Congressman John Garamendi letter on Nile dam

 


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