Meles Zenawi warns Egypt off Nile war

by ocean

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Egypt could not win a war with Ethiopia over the River Nile and is also supporting rebel groups in an attempt to destabilise the Horn of Africa nation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said in an interview.

Egypt, Ethiopia and seven other countries through which the river passes have been locked in more than a decade of contentious talks driven by anger over the perceived injustice of a previous Nile water treaty signed in 1929.

Under the original pact Egypt is entitled to 55.5 billion cubic metres a year, the lion’s share of the Nile’s total flow of around 84 billion cubic metres, despite the fact some 85 percent of the water originates in Ethiopia.

Meles Zenawi warned Egypt on Nile war

Meles Zenawi warned Egypt on Nile war

Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya signed a new deal to share the waters in May, provoking Egypt to call it a “national security” issue.

Meles said he was not happy with the rhetoric coming from the Egyptians but dismissed the claims of some analysts that war could eventually erupt.

“I am not worried that the Egyptians will suddenly invade Ethiopia,” Meles told Reuters in an interview. “Nobody who has tried that has lived to tell the story. I don’t think the Egyptians will be any different and I think they know that.”

The five signatories of the new deal have given the other Nile Basin countries one year to join the pact before putting it into action. Sudan has backed Egypt while Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi have so far refused to sign.

“The Egyptians have yet to make up their minds as to whether they want to live in the 21st or the 19th century,” Meles told Reuters in an interview, referring to the fact the original treaty was negotiated by colonial administrators.

“So the process appears to be stuck.”

“FISH IN TROUBLED WATERS”

Stretching more than 6,600 km (4,100 miles) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean, the Nile is a vital water and energy source for the nine countries through which it flows.

Egypt, almost totally dependent on the Nile and threatened by climate change, is closely watching hydroelectric dam construction in the upstream countries.

Ethiopia has built five huge dams over the last decade and has begun construction on a new $1.4 billion hydropower facility — the biggest in Africa.

Meles accused Egypt of trying to destabilise his country by supporting several small rebel groups but said it was a tactic that would no longer work.

“If we address the issues around which the rebel groups are mobilised then we can neutralise them and therefore make it impossible for the Egyptians to fish in troubled waters because there won’t be any,” he said.

“Hopefully that should convince the Egyptians that, as direct conflict will not work, and as the indirect approach is not as effective as it used to be, the only sane option will be civil dialogue.”

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in July called for a scheduled November meeting of the nine countries to be attended by heads of state. Meles said that would not happen now.

The last meeting of all sides ended in stalemate and angry exchanges between water ministers at a news conference in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

“Ask the Egyptians to leave their culture and go and live in the desert because you need to take this water and to add it to other countries? No,” Egyptian Water Minister Mohamed Nasreddin Allam told Reuters at that meeting.

Source: Reuters

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15 comments

markos November 23, 2010 - 7:48 pm

We are Ethiopia hoof people for any one but someone who disrespect us we are tough . Thank you miles ! I support you & Ethiopia.

Reply
markos November 23, 2010 - 7:56 pm

markos :
We are Ethiopia nice people for any one but someone who disrespect us we are tough . Thank you miles ! I support you & Ethopia.

I

Reply
yoni November 24, 2010 - 5:33 pm

We are the hero of Africa and the hero of ours. We never touch anybody, but if anybody try to come over our right we are right there to show who we are. Before playing any game with lion ask about line his tolerance, kindness, and love. We are on your side meles we are ready to pay all the needs what we have to pay Nile is Ethiopia, Ethiopia is Nile.

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samnv November 25, 2010 - 3:33 am

Good respond prime minster meles zenawi,even though we have some differences when it comes to Ethiopia every ethiopian is behind you no matter what.

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Gizachew-America November 25, 2010 - 5:12 am

Thank you-Prime menister-you did good job!!
Nile is our river more than 85% of it comes from ethiopian land.So what is the hell in cairo?How many years we feed them?
If we be silent to day, it wiil be continew in the future.

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Gizachew-America November 25, 2010 - 5:14 am

Gizachew-America :Thank you-Prime menister-you did good job!!Nile is our river more than 85% of it comes from ethiopian land.So what is the hell in cairo?How many years we feed them?If we be silent to day, it will be continew in the future.

Reply
Dwit Shiferaw November 29, 2010 - 12:27 pm

It’s the history that we are proud of. ………….n we are proud of u PM meles. n always on ur side. Just go for it.

“TO DARE IS TO DO!”
GOD bless Ethiopia.

Reply
gonderew December 1, 2010 - 6:51 am

Mr prime miniester i am proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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tesfaye leta December 2, 2010 - 8:50 am

this is the nice thing.we stand beside u our prime minster meles.wedon’t afraid !”linegasil mechalemu yemaykernew”.so we will see…………..
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA AND HER PEOPLE !!!

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dawit December 18, 2010 - 9:38 am

our pm meles! i m proud of your confidence.keep it up!god bless Ethiopia!

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Ermagodolias January 20, 2011 - 11:52 pm

For z frst time in ma life ‘am loving our pm, meles…
Zis is historical, obviousily da future generation depend upon zis, so when it comes 2 decision we have 2 be wise.
Of course z egyptian fooled us for half a century, its time 4 us to wake up n decide.
I hate wars, but if sacrifice has to be paid on national sovergin matters, i’d say bring it on n indeed history will repeat it self.
May da almighty God protect his blessed ppl , Ethiopia, n da copts!

Reply
Anonymous January 20, 2011 - 11:55 pm

For z frst time in ma life ‘am loving our pm, meles…
Zis is historical, obviousily da future generation depend upon zis, so when it comes 2 decision we have 2 be wise.
Of course z egyptian fooled us for half a century, its time 4 us to wake up n decide.
I hate wars, but if sacrifice has to be paid on national sovergin matters, i’d say bring it on n indeed history will repeat it self.
May da almighty God protect his blessed ppl, Ethiopia, n da copts!

Reply
nardos February 16, 2011 - 8:56 am

we do not fear Egypt . by anything up to war !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply
hagos May 2, 2011 - 6:51 am

its good idea;but i am not sure that the dam will be constracted there are may reason for this…

Reply

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