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GRD has more space for cooperation: Outgoing Italian Ambassador

BY WORKU BELACHEW

ADDIS ABABA— Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia Renzo Mario Rosso said that the issue of Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GRD) has more space for cooperation among the riparian countries.

In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald yesterday, Ambassador Rosso said that understanding one another would enable riparian countries benefit from the low cost energy to be produced. He added that all technical issues of the dam have fully been met by Ethiopia as far as his knowledge is concerned.

Ambassador Rosso also expressed his strong conviction that Salini Construction would successfully bring the construction into reality. “I can say the Ethiopian government knows Salini more than I do. And more than words can tell, the construction firm has international credence and full capacity to do so.”

The Ambassador, who concluded his tenure in Ethiopia, perceives the relations between the two sisterly countries dating back to the years in the 1890's has complimented the growing “special relationships”_ in his own words— between his country and Ethiopia in all spheres, political, economic, and social and more. He also described his stay in Addis as rewarding: “My stay here has been so rewarding because Addis has become a truly African city and Ethiopia has been changing over the years.”

Regarding the political cooperation between the two sisterly countries, he noted that Ethiopia and Italy have been co-chairing the IGAD Partners Forum showing their increased collaboration.

“We share common vision concerning the stability of the Horn of Africa. Italy signed bilateral protocol for a project concerning the stabilization of Kismayo area and full agreement with Ethiopia and IGAD administration. In this case, we are trying to be a sort of loud speaker for the efforts made so far”, the Ambassador added.

According to him, IGAD has become an important stakeholder in promoting peace initiatives in Somalia and South Sudan.

The Ambassador took leave of President Dr. Mulatu Teshome earlier in the day, The Ethiopian Herald. learned.

(Ethiopian Herlad, Feb. 27,201)