CAIRO: Talks on implementing a new framework for the countries of the Nile basin are set to continue for another six months as a working formula all parties could agree on has yet to be reached, the foreign ministry said. Talks between the nine countries were held March 7 in Alexandria and chaired by Prime Minister and current acting President Ahmed Nazif, but an agreement was beyond reach. Assistant Foreign Minister for African and AU Affairs Mona Omar said in a statement, "it was agreed to continue consultations and endeavors on the agreement for six months in an attempt to reach a consensual formula for the agreement to be accepted by all parties. There is a disagreement between Egypt and Sudan on one side and the other countries on the other regarding the former countries' insistence that they be informed of any projects in the northern region of the Nile ahead of time as they might affect Egypt and Sudan's share of water. An unnamed foreign ministry official denied in a report by Al-Shorouk newspaper rumors that the other Nile basin countries had signed an agreement without Egypt and Sudan. The official added that no country had as of yet informed Egypt of its refusal to sign the agreement despite some objections. The two countries generally opposed to articles of the current agreement are Ethiopia and Uganda. Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit is to visit Ethiopia later this month to chair the meetings of the Egyptian-Ethiopian Joint Committee. There is also to be a ministerial meeting of the Nile Basin countries in Sharm El-Sheikh in April, a meeting that was originally scheduled for January. In the foreign ministry statement, Omar affirmed that "relations between Egypt and the Nile Basin countries are fraternal, and will not be affected by any differences in viewpoints regarding the framework agreement. She added that "Egypt is not concerned about the activities of other countries in the Nile Basin region or in African countries, as Egypt leaves no space in its approach with the Nile Basin countries for any other country, and it is the right of each country to protect its interests in the Nile Basin as long as it does not conflict with the Egyptian interests.
