In a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati accused Ethiopia of "endangering the lives of millions of people downstream" due to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and said his country would take the case to the International Court of Justice.

Ethiopia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Joseph Kasaye, in a response to the Egyptian Foreign Minister, said: "Egypt's statements about the Grand Renaissance Dam are baseless and misleading."

He added that Egypt has "repeatedly presented unsubstantiated allegations about the Grand Renaissance Dam to the United Nations Security Council."

Egypt's Foreign Minister: Ethiopia has "taken unilateral action and put the lives of millions of Egyptian and Sudanese people at risk by building a dam on the Nile River."

Representatives of the two countries exchanged strong words during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Egypt has accused Ethiopia of pursuing a "destructive policy of isolation" in the Horn of Africa and the East Nile Basin.

The completion of the Renaissance Dam is a "disaster" for downstream countries, the foreign minister said.

Ethiopia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, yoseph Kassaye, for his part, noted that Ethiopia has repeatedly responded to the dam in line with international law and principles.

Ambassador yoseph added, "The difference between Ethiopia's long-standing policy of cooperation and Egypt's role is clear."