(DNE File Photo)
By Deena Wahba
Amr Moussa, Conference Party and the National Salvation Front (NSF) leader, held a two-hour meeting with the Ethiopian ambassador to Egypt Mahmoud Dardir on Monday to discuss issues surrounding the controversial Grand Renaissance Dam.
Amr Moussa’s media consultant, Yara Khalaf, told the Daily News Egypt that Moussa and the ambassador “discussed the tense situation between the two countries and stressed the importance of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations”, adding that “they also discussed how to overcome the current tension caused by the dam and [its] possible consequences on Egypt’s share of the Nile [water]”.
“The ambassador denied any bad intentions or effects on Egypt’s rights to the Nile, pointing out that the campaigns against Ethiopia in Egypt are not based on correct information,” Khalaf said. She also added that, “the ambassador praised the principles of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations, established by the former Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, stressing that the current leadership [also] believes in the importance of this relationship.”
Khalaf further added that “the ambassador denied that Israel has anything to do with the dam or its effects”.
Recently Moussa did not attend a meeting with Morsi and other Egyptian politicians, instead sending a memorandum with his opinion on the dam. Khalaf explained that Moussa had withdrawn in the interests of “waiting for the report about the tripartite committee, but [Presidential Aide] Pakinam El-Sharkawy didn’t send it.” She added that Moussa had also requested “a higher level of dialogue” in the meetings, which the NSF leader said had “no seriousness” to them.
