Iraq and Jordan have expressed their support for Egypt in preserving its rights to the Nile waters and resolving its dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) through negotiations. The announcement came during a meeting that brought together the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq on the sidelines of the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku. The three ministers discussed means of executing the outcome of the second summit between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Iraqi President Barham Salih in New York in September. They also agreed that the next ministerial meeting to be held in Amman in November, in preparation for the tripartite summit among the three countries' leaders in Baghdad. The ministers tackled means of boosting economic, development and cultural ties, as well as continuing political consultation among the three states. The latest regional updates, including those related to the Palestinian issue and the Syrian, Yemeni and Libyan crises, as well as the fight against terrorism were also discussed. With regard to the GERD negotiations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry updated his Jordanian and Iraqi counterparts on the outcome of the recent meeting between President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Sochi. In this regard, Shoukry said that Egypt seeks to reach a binding agreement that guarantees the three countries' rights, on the basis international law and rules of international legitimacy. The talks touched on Iraq's efforts to establish security and stability, while achieving the Iraqi people's aspirations. Established in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.
