The talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to discuss on the issues related to Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ended with disagreement as reported by MENA on January 5, 2014. Sustainable solution-in the future discussions- can be achieved if Ethiopia and Egypt as well as other Blue and white Nile watershed countries apply something related to the 1978 Egyptian-Israeli negotiations approach at Camp David. When the 1978 negotiations started, the sides’ positions were completely opposed to each other. Egypt insisted on complete sovereignty over the Sinai Peninsula, while Israel insisted on keeping control of at least some of the Sinai.

"Looking to their interests instead of their positions made it possible to develop a solution. Israel’s interest lay in security; they did not want Egyptian tanks poised on their border ready to roll across at any time. Egypt’s interest lay in sovereignty; the Sinai had been part of Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs." (Fisher and Ury, 1981, p. 41). By reframing the conflict in this way, a solution was reached. Egypt was given full sovereignty over the Sinai, but large portions of the area were demilitarized, which assured Israel’s security at the same time.

Ethiopia has interest to use the water from Blue Nile/Abay for its development- to receive a fair and reasonable share of water from Nile-without affecting the water security of the downstream countries. The interest of other upstream countries is not also different from Ethiopia. To reach on agreement Egypt should revisit its positions that include request for supervision or participation in the construction of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as well as a push for the respect of the 1929 water use treaty that entitles the country to use the water from Nile with Sudan.