Offsetting public anger wrongly towards GRD, old fashioned strategy
BY WORKU BELACHEW
BY WORKU BELACHEW
President Morsi's Administration seems to be astutely failing to address key issues that Egyptians are demanding including a foundering economy, recurrent nationwide power cuts and chronic fuel shortages, among others. Not only that during the drafting phase of Egypt's new constitution and when important issues were being discussed, such as the elections law and the judicial authority law major oppositions did not gain opportunity to have their voice heard and included. It is such malaise that has been trembling the North African nation over the past dozen of months. To tackle that, Egypt's opposition political activists called on the public for a mass demonstration scheduled for coming June 30. That is why it would be much safe to conclude that the driving force behind Morsi Administration's rush for a reconciliation is to amuse pubic attention from domestic problems.
Shehab Waguih, spokesman for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party – a member-party of the National Salivation Front (NSF) – called Morsi's recent call for reconciliation as an effortless "manoeuvre" aimed at offsetting public anger over government failures to deal with national security threats, especially the ongoing row over Ethiopia's dam project.
The current psychological warfare-that Ethiopia has dismissed with a Tuesday Foreign Affairs statement- by few Egyptians authorities, political figures, and some CSOs also shows that the administration is short of genuine solutions to provide for the people of Egypt.
Over the past two years Ethiopia has been tightly occupied with building a USD 4.8 billion GRD with local funds. The people of Ethiopia, despite living in poverty, are financing the construction. But, after all these days have gone by Egyptian authorities start to daydream as the GRD is a threat to their national security, particularly after the misrepresented “river diversion” which is in fact re-routing of the river. Experts in construction area say that re-routing of a river is not something new if it is to build dam. So, isn't it sound that political leaders of Egypt are manipulating the GRD building to divert public attention?
When the days of a planned huge mass demonstration approaches they start to fan destructive propaganda turning their face to East Africa. On the 'accidentally' televised meeting which was crammed with emotional political leaders last week [due respect for very few rational individuals] and others they declared psychological warfare on the East African Nation. The warfare starts to gain momentum when President Morsi and Prime Minister Hesham Qandil stirred another provocative messages on Ethiopia saying that “if a drop of water is lost their blood is the alternative” on National Conference of the Nile on Monday. Though Cairo bang the drum loud, it looked as if Addis did not hear it. But why?
“Our foreign policy and other policies are enforced responsibly without blending emotions with facts. We, in no way, base our foreign relations on emotions or mere Media reportings. Our driving force is rational thinking... it was Ethiopia that proposed the establishment of the Tripartite Panel of Experts to make them [downstream countries] sure that the construction holds no significant negative impacts on downstream countries and the finding is also the same,” as noted by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti.
The dangerous game the authorities are playing seems not to benefit the people of Egypt. It is a reckless option which may bring double damages for the people of Egypt. In one hand, the old fashioned provocative messages of Cairo - crammed with proposals of war and other destabilizing mechanisms - will remain a disgrace before the international community. The stand is also a pseudo-solution for the ongoing internal instability, on the other hand. Caring for the people of Egypt need to be coupled with a civilized foreign relations. War in the 21st century would not be easy. It is costly which leaves countries with loses in terms of human and financial capital. Talking of proxy war and other means to create unrest is also unworkable and makes the nation to lose its credibility before the international community. And announcing such shameful messages on a state TV is not expected from
'responsible' political leaders. In fact, no one else would not understand it how Ethiopians come together when it comes to their national agenda better than Egyptian brothers and sisters. By the same token, Ethiopia has not provoked any nation in its entire history but successfully defended when aggressors set their feet on its land- let historians write about this.
The dam's construction is for a hydropower purpose. Ethiopia's power demand is doubling every three years so far. This shows that the country must utilize its renewable resources, be it wind farm, solar or geothermal, the nation is investing highly on it. This time, most of its rivers are being employed for power generation. The GRD is no different. The whole thing is to rotate turbines and running to its normal course. And it is the nation's natural right to use the river for this purpose without posing significant harm on downstream countries. That is what has been proved by the panel of experts which Egypt is included. So, why does the Egyptian Authorities are angered this much? Yes, they are playing dangerous game of covering up domestic problems.
The solid stance Sudan is manifesting also witnesses that the dam's construction is only on a win-win base. It is not meant to harm brothers and sisters of downstream countries, and peoples which are tied by nature. In Ethiopia one would not find a single individual who holds hostility towards the people of downstream countries to leave them with thirst and hunger. The dam is being built meeting all international stands.
In the face of these facts, Egyptian authorities are claiming either to halt or reduce the size of the dam after two years have lapsed since the start of the construction. Ethiopia, however, is expressing its steadfast stance that the construction would be further strengthened and the pace won't be affected even for a fraction of a second. The government of Ethiopia also called on the people of Egypt to distance themselves from this disreputable activity.
With no doubt, the construction of the GRD is to lift up the people of Ethiopia from poverty but with due recognition of fair use of Nile waters. Considering Nile as a gift nature presents for Egypt is a dangerous yet old fashioned posture. This posture is installed by colonials for their own benefits not for the people of Egypt. Nile is an invaluable gift of the riparian countries. And keen cooperation among the countries would bring a win-win gain. That is why most of them have already signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement. Annihilating oneself from this cooperation and engaging in destructive agenda could lead to zero sum gain. That is why Ethiopia is patiently using all peaceful ways while Egyptians are engaged in destructive means. Still, the door is open, Morsi Administration would be beneficiary if it properly addresses Egyptians query.
Shehab Waguih, spokesman for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party – a member-party of the National Salivation Front (NSF) – called Morsi's recent call for reconciliation as an effortless "manoeuvre" aimed at offsetting public anger over government failures to deal with national security threats, especially the ongoing row over Ethiopia's dam project.
The current psychological warfare-that Ethiopia has dismissed with a Tuesday Foreign Affairs statement- by few Egyptians authorities, political figures, and some CSOs also shows that the administration is short of genuine solutions to provide for the people of Egypt.
Over the past two years Ethiopia has been tightly occupied with building a USD 4.8 billion GRD with local funds. The people of Ethiopia, despite living in poverty, are financing the construction. But, after all these days have gone by Egyptian authorities start to daydream as the GRD is a threat to their national security, particularly after the misrepresented “river diversion” which is in fact re-routing of the river. Experts in construction area say that re-routing of a river is not something new if it is to build dam. So, isn't it sound that political leaders of Egypt are manipulating the GRD building to divert public attention?
When the days of a planned huge mass demonstration approaches they start to fan destructive propaganda turning their face to East Africa. On the 'accidentally' televised meeting which was crammed with emotional political leaders last week [due respect for very few rational individuals] and others they declared psychological warfare on the East African Nation. The warfare starts to gain momentum when President Morsi and Prime Minister Hesham Qandil stirred another provocative messages on Ethiopia saying that “if a drop of water is lost their blood is the alternative” on National Conference of the Nile on Monday. Though Cairo bang the drum loud, it looked as if Addis did not hear it. But why?
“Our foreign policy and other policies are enforced responsibly without blending emotions with facts. We, in no way, base our foreign relations on emotions or mere Media reportings. Our driving force is rational thinking... it was Ethiopia that proposed the establishment of the Tripartite Panel of Experts to make them [downstream countries] sure that the construction holds no significant negative impacts on downstream countries and the finding is also the same,” as noted by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti.
The dangerous game the authorities are playing seems not to benefit the people of Egypt. It is a reckless option which may bring double damages for the people of Egypt. In one hand, the old fashioned provocative messages of Cairo - crammed with proposals of war and other destabilizing mechanisms - will remain a disgrace before the international community. The stand is also a pseudo-solution for the ongoing internal instability, on the other hand. Caring for the people of Egypt need to be coupled with a civilized foreign relations. War in the 21st century would not be easy. It is costly which leaves countries with loses in terms of human and financial capital. Talking of proxy war and other means to create unrest is also unworkable and makes the nation to lose its credibility before the international community. And announcing such shameful messages on a state TV is not expected from
'responsible' political leaders. In fact, no one else would not understand it how Ethiopians come together when it comes to their national agenda better than Egyptian brothers and sisters. By the same token, Ethiopia has not provoked any nation in its entire history but successfully defended when aggressors set their feet on its land- let historians write about this.
The dam's construction is for a hydropower purpose. Ethiopia's power demand is doubling every three years so far. This shows that the country must utilize its renewable resources, be it wind farm, solar or geothermal, the nation is investing highly on it. This time, most of its rivers are being employed for power generation. The GRD is no different. The whole thing is to rotate turbines and running to its normal course. And it is the nation's natural right to use the river for this purpose without posing significant harm on downstream countries. That is what has been proved by the panel of experts which Egypt is included. So, why does the Egyptian Authorities are angered this much? Yes, they are playing dangerous game of covering up domestic problems.
The solid stance Sudan is manifesting also witnesses that the dam's construction is only on a win-win base. It is not meant to harm brothers and sisters of downstream countries, and peoples which are tied by nature. In Ethiopia one would not find a single individual who holds hostility towards the people of downstream countries to leave them with thirst and hunger. The dam is being built meeting all international stands.
In the face of these facts, Egyptian authorities are claiming either to halt or reduce the size of the dam after two years have lapsed since the start of the construction. Ethiopia, however, is expressing its steadfast stance that the construction would be further strengthened and the pace won't be affected even for a fraction of a second. The government of Ethiopia also called on the people of Egypt to distance themselves from this disreputable activity.
With no doubt, the construction of the GRD is to lift up the people of Ethiopia from poverty but with due recognition of fair use of Nile waters. Considering Nile as a gift nature presents for Egypt is a dangerous yet old fashioned posture. This posture is installed by colonials for their own benefits not for the people of Egypt. Nile is an invaluable gift of the riparian countries. And keen cooperation among the countries would bring a win-win gain. That is why most of them have already signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement. Annihilating oneself from this cooperation and engaging in destructive agenda could lead to zero sum gain. That is why Ethiopia is patiently using all peaceful ways while Egyptians are engaged in destructive means. Still, the door is open, Morsi Administration would be beneficiary if it properly addresses Egyptians query.
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