(May 21, 2011, Addis Ababa)- The national council in charge of mobilizing the public for the construction of the grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam officially began operation on Friday.
In its first meeting same day, the council deliberated on its working producers as well as the progress of Ethiopia's project on Nile.
The council was formed with the aim of coordinating the public to contribute share to the project.
So far, the executive committee of the council has been undertaking activities that would enable to intensify the participation of the public in building the dam.
It has been lobbying Ethiopians both in the country and abroad to purchase government saving bonds for the project.
The committee has also been expending efforts to fight belittling opinions that aim at hampering the project from progressing.
In addition, it was possible to put the issue in the spotlight among the riparian countries.
The visit made by the Egyptian public diplomacy delegation is said to have shown that there is a new momentum in that country regarding the use of the Nile.
Members of the council have agreed that they have a huge task of taking every opportunity to show the Egyptian people that the dam does not harm them in any way.
They said they have the duty of creating national consensus not only for this particular project but in other development endeavors as well.
The members retreated to work towards enhancing public participation in supporting the project.
The council is comprised of 75 members representing political parties, religious institutions, scholars, artists, businesspersons, and higher learning students' unions, among others.
The government assigned Foreign and deputy Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn and Government communications Affairs Minister, Bereket Simon as president and secretary of the council in that order.
Following thorough deliberations on its draft working procedures, the council decided to incorporate points raised by members to the document. The council also settled on holding its regular meetings every 3 months.
Soruce: Ertgov. news, Edited by Nesru Jemal.
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