UNSC briefing on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

[8 July 2021; 1500 hrs ]

Statement  by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti,

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

-----

Thank you Mr. President.

1. Let me begin by thanking Special Envoy of Secretary General for Horn of Africa Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga and Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP for their briefings. I welcome the presence of Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Sudan and Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister of Ethiopia and the Charge d’Affaires of the Democratic Republic of Congo in today’s meeting.

2. India is closely following the developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The river basin of Nile encompasses eleven countries in Africa, which also includes Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Therefore, there is no doubt that this is a complex transboundary water dispute, involving many countries in the region as well as several legal and technical issues.

3. We recognize that the parties have already undertaken several initiatives to address issues arising out of construction and filling of GERD in Ethiopia. These include the establishment of an international panel of experts in 2012 to examine the Dam’s design and construction plans, a follow-up Tripartite National Committee in 2014 and the 2015 Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

4. We believe that these initiatives, particularly the 2015 Agreement on Declaration of Principles provide a good basis to continue negotiations aimed at reaching an amicable solution that protects the interests of all three countries. It goes without saying that Nile water usage should benefit people of all countries respecting the rights of both upper and lower riparian states.   

5. The Chair of the African Union (AU), South Africa in 2020 and Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2021, have made commendable efforts to facilitate a meaningful discussion along with the observers. There have been many meetings of the African Union on this issue last year. We understand from 26 June 2020 AU communique, that these tripartite negotations have brought about agreement on 90% of the issues though not all the issues. As a lower and upper riparian State, India is only too aware of how difficult such negotiations can be. It is important that AU continues with these efforts in good faith. We call on Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to work constructively with the AU led processes with a view to resolve the outstanding issues in a purposeful manner and with the urgency it deserves.  Since AU is seized of the matter, it is important that all Parties engage urgently to find a way forward.

6. Based on our own experience, we know that transboundary water disputes should ideally be resolved through mechanisms agreed upon by the primary stakeholders, and taking into account their respective rights and also  issues of technical details, historical usage and socio-economic aspects.

7. India is of the view that the countries should continue their bilateral engagements as well as cooperate fully and in a focussed manner with the AU to reach a mutually acceptable, long-term resolution of the relevant issues. Only such a solution would endure and serve the developmental needs of upper and lower riparian regions. We also urge other interested countries to support the efforts of the AU in this regard.

I thank you Mr. President.

****