ASWAN , UAR ; Left to right here are , President Gamal Abdul Nasser of the United Arab Republic , visiting Soviet Premier , Nikita Kruschev, President Aref of Iraq and President Sallal of the Yemen , who are shown pressing a button which set off an exposive charge that blew a barrier which diverted the course of the River Nile eastwards to this site of the Aswan High Dam . Today ' s ceremony marked the completion of the first stage of the dam , the building of the Coffer dam and canal to clear the way for the construction of the High Dam proper , which is being built with Soviet financial aid . In speeches before the ceremony both Premier Kruschev and President Nasser attacked the West . 14 May 1964