The United States and the European Union have expressed readiness to mediate in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute.
Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan received on Monday US Special Envoy for Sudan Ambassador Donald Booth and Head of the European Union Delegation to Sudan Ambassador Robert van den Dool at the presidential palace in Khartoum.
They discussed the differences between Khartoum, Cairo and Addis Ababa over the mega dam and tensions on the eastern borders between Sudan and Ethiopia.
According to a Sovereign Council press statement, Burhan called on the US and EU to contribute to reaching a joint agreement over the GERD and promote the peace process in Sudan.
He affirmed Khartoum’s adherence to peaceful and diplomatic solutions on disputed issues with Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile, both officials stressed the need to reach a diplomatic solution for the GERD dispute based on a satisfactory approach for the three parties.
The approach should ensure Ethiopia’s ability to generate power, Sudan’s territorial integrity and dam security and Egypt’s water rights, the statement read.
They also hailed the government’s signing of the declaration of principles with Abdelaziz al-Hilu’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N al-Hilu), which will pave the way to achieve a comprehensive peace in Sudan.
Van den Dool said the EU is ready to support the economic reform process taking place in Sudan and contribute to the government’s Family Support program, which will provide direct cash transfers each month to support vulnerable families.
Booth arrived in Khartoum on Monday for a two-day visit as part of a regional tour, which will include Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic.
The Sudanese government had previously proposed to expand the mediating parties to include the EU, United Nations, US and African Union in the hopes of reaching a breakthrough in deadlocked GERD talks.
