While addressing the first Joint Multipurpose Program (JMP)- Eastern Nile Regional Parliamentarian Committee (ENRPC) meeting that opened here on Tuesday, the minister, Asfaw Dingamo said parliamentarians of Ethiopia, the Sudan and Egypt should play key role to the effective implementation of strategies and plans of JMP .

The minister said JMP-RPC’s members should exert utmost effort to the realization of JPM since it is regional undertakings, which optimize the utilization of Nile resource, maximize benefits and above all promote lasting economic cooperation and regional integration and peace and security.

The ministry said since the parliamentarians are legislators, law makers and the voice of the community, they would have great support to strengthen cooperation and ensure common benefit of riparian states.

Asfaw urged JMP-ENRPC’s members to dedicate themselves to ensure sustainable management and development of the Nile since they are uniquely positioned to promote regional cooperation on the river.

The JMP-ENRPC’s members on their part said the three riparian states are implementing a program that enables them to change the environmental condition of the Eastern Africa.

JMP-ENRPC’s members said since the Nile is a common resource, riparian states should further their cooperation and forge ties.

Ensuring sustainable development cooperation of riparian states has been encouraging; JMP-ENRPC’s members said and added that the riparian states should expand their cooperation in other sectors.

They said since the establishment of the JMP-ENRPC, member states are becoming beneficiaries.

They said capacity building works and other eight million Birr various projects are well in progress.

They expressed their commitment to the implementation of the Nile basin initiative plans and programs and ensure the benefit of their respective nations.

Ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors, development partners as well as representative of non governmental organizations were in attendance at the meeting.

---END---