Ethiopia and Egypt agree on new chapter in relations

In order to open a new chapter on international relations, Egypt and Ethiopia agree that the Nile basin is a bridge and not a barrier. The future is a new relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt based on a win-win strategy. The past is an old relationship based on a zero-sum game. That is gone. There is no going back. Under the Mubarak regime, Ethiopia took the lead in the campaign against Egypt -- for whom the Nile is just about the only source of water -- but Sharaf's government has repeatedly stressed its intention to resolve the dispute. Sharaf, Egypt’s Prime Minister, said that both countries’ main and ultimate goal is to develop an integrated development plan that benefits both. And they have agreed on the establishment of a political dialogue mechanism at the level of foreign ministers to ensure regular meetings. On the contrary, Ethiopia confirms that they won’t make a move and that they will wait for the Egyptian side to make its decision in the regard.

Setting the Nile basin as a bridge and not as a subject of conflicts is the beginning of a new relationship between two neighbor countries based on confidence and friendship, leading to an example of fraternity for other African countries.