Egypt: Ethiopia Rejecting ‘Fundamental Issues’ on Nile Dam

Egypt: Ethiopia Rejecting ‘Fundamental Issues’ on Nile Dam
Construction work takes place, at the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia on June 28, 2013. Elias Asmare/AP
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CAIRO—Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia on June 14 said talks would continue later this week to resolve their dispute over a Nile River dam that Ethiopia is constructing, even as Cairo accused Addis Ababa of rejecting “fundamental issues” at the heart of the negotiations.

While Ethiopia wants to begin filling the dam’s reservoir in the coming weeks, Egypt has raised concerns that filing the reservoir too quickly and without a deal could significantly reduce the amount of Nile water available to Egypt. Both countries have made clear in the past that they could take steps to protect their interests, should negotiations fail, and experts fear a breakdown in talks could lead to conflict.