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This week is a time when Westerners are really interested in learning about the current situation in Ethiopia.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Dina Mufti’s State of the Nation Address on Political Diplomacy, Current Situation in Tigray Region, Renaissance Dam Negotiation

In a statement, Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said he had met with a high-level delegation led by US Ambassador to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth.

Demeke said Ethiopia is a country that provides 86 percent water to the Nile River and 60 percent of its citizens live in darkness due to lack of electricity supply.

He said the dam is a project aimed at enlightening its people living in the dark.

He said the use of Nile water for development is a legitimate and sovereign right of Ethiopia and Ethiopia has no intention of harming the lower Nile Basin countries.

He noted that tripartite talks had been held to address concerns raised by Sudan and Egypt. He said Ethiopia has always been committed to resolving issues through negotiations.

Demeke said Ethiopia is ready to cooperate with the United States in the construction of the dam.

In a statement on the current situation in Tigray State, arrangements are being made for an independent investigation into human rights violations involving international bodies. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has agreed to work with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (ECHR) to investigate alleged human rights abuses.

Last week, Westerners expressed interest in learning about the current situation in Ethiopia, he said, adding that they were able to understand the reality on the ground.