Hanoi (VNA) - The UN Security Council (UNSC) held an online discussionon June 29 regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

GERD is a hydroelectric project launched in 2011 on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and two downstream countries, Sudan and Egypt, have been working todiscuss technical and legal issues relating to the project since 2012 but areyet to come to an agreement.

In March 2015, the three countries agreed to adopt the Declaration ofPrinciples for GERD construction (DoPs 2015).

Addressing the June 29 discussion, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of theVietnamese mission to the UN, expressed his concern over many internationalriver flows being exploited unsustainably and failing to ensure the legitimateinterests of affected countries.

He voiced his support for negotiations and cooperative efforts by the partiesdirectly involved in the exploitation and use of the Nile River, and called uponcountries to continue efforts and promote results, especially in theimplementation of DoPs 2015.

The official also advocated solutions for resolving problems through peacefulmeasures, in the spirit of friendship and goodwill.

He spoke highly of the African Union’s role in pushing negotiations between thethree countries, emphasising the need to promote trans-boundary waterpractices, including consultation and information sharing.

Sharing the use of international water resources should be in line withinternational law and the commitments of involved countries on the basis ofharmonising the interests of coastal nations, especially those downstream, andensuring sustainable development for the whole region, Ambassador Quy said.

He asked involved parties to cease any action that intensifies tensions, whileemphasising the importance of promoting the codification and formulation ofinternational laws, regulations, and practices relating to water security, suchas implementing the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses ofInternational Watercourses./.