Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    58 days that exposed IMF's contradictions on Egypt    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sudan holds right to defend its interests if GERD talks fail: Water Minister
Ethiopia dam's second filling without tripartite agreement threatens lives of 20 million Sudanese people: Yasser Abbas
Published in Daily News Egypt on 13 - 03 - 2021

Yasser Abbas, Sudan's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, has announced that his country will defend its interests by all legitimate means should the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations fail.
Abbas' remarks came during an interview, on Saturday, with Egyptian newspaper Al-Shorouk.
He referred to his country's reaction in the event Ethiopia insists on commencing the second filling of the GERD without a legally binding agreement, and stressed that Khartoum has the right to use all means to defend its national security.
The Sudanese minister also noted that Ethiopia is trying to include the water-sharing file in the negotiations on the mega-dam.
Abbas said that the absence of political will lies behind the failure to reach an agreement on the dam. He added that the reason for his country's proposal to expand the mediation umbrella and form an International Quartet is due to there being no developments in negotiations since they stopped on 10 January.
The minister also said that Sudan submitted a proposal to expand the negotiations umbrella, by including the United Nations (UN) among the current observers, namely the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and the US.
Regarding the proposal, Abbas stressed that he sees the four parties as facilitators and mediators, rather than observers, to break the deadlock in negotiations. This will help the three countries reach a binding legal agreement regarding the filling and operation of the GERD that takes into account the interests of Khartoum, Cairo, and Addis Ababa.
He also addressed their concerns, pointing to Egypt's support for this proposal, whilst pointing out that the dam's second filling without an agreement threatens the lives of 20 million Sudanese.
Abbas stressed that the three parties can "conclude an agreement before July, if the Ethiopians have the political will".
On the rapprochement between Egypt and Sudan, Abbas said that the two countries are cooperating in exchanging experiences, and improving ways of using water resources.
Ethiopia began the construction of the huge Dam on the Blue Nile in 2011. The Blue Nile is one of the most prominent tributaries of the River Nile, and negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have been ongoing since 2015. These talks have so far failed to reach any binding solution.
Last year, Ethiopia announced the end of the first phase of the dam reservoir's filling, with the second phase expected to start within months.
Both Khartoum and Cairo want a binding agreement on the dam, which Addis Ababa rejects in practice through negotiations. Both Egypt and Sudan have intensified their contacts regarding what they describe as "Ethiopian intransigence".


Clic here to read the story from its source.