PRESIDENT Mohamed Morsi conferred yesterday with representatives of political parties and movements as well as with key public figures to apprise them of the conclusions of a report drafted by a 3-state technical panel on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project. Dr. Morsi also introduced to participants the administration's re-appraisal of the situation in light of the technical committee report conclusions. The triplet comprises two water and construction experts from each of Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia as well as four international experts. Following a review of the project with special reference to the technical panel report and Egypt's outlook, President Morsi urged broad national accord in the face of any risk. "What we are now facing with regard to the River Nile file requires all parties to line up and stand shoulder to shoulder in order to prevent any threat to Egypt," Dr. Morsi said in remarks at the dialogue session which was broadcast live on television. The session lasted for nearly four hours. The president underlined that he will not turn a blind eye to any attempts that undermine Egypt's share of the River Nile. "All state institutions are undertaking full responsibility with regard to the River Nile file," he added, pointing out that water security is part of the comprehensive concept of our security. Amr Hamzawy, head of the liberal Egypt Freedom Party said: "We have substantial interests with the countries that fund the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, including Italy and China. We can invest such relations to solve this crisis through diplomacy and negotiation." Hamzawy pointed out that we have to deal with the worst where there are plans in the drawers and we have not seen them yet. Al-Nour Party Chairman Younus Makhyoun highlighted the need to reach an agreement with the Sudan to draw up a shared vision between the two countries and also to negotiate with Ethiopia to stop the construction of the dam. Presidential spokesman Omar Amer said in statements on the eve of convening the dialogue that the triplet report was conveyed to the presidency but that the document did not state clearly what advantages and disadvantages that could come out of the Ethiopian dam project. Speaking over telephone to CBC Television late on Sunday evening, spokesman Amer said that President Morsi had decided to subject the report to further study by government experts. He noted that the document is in need of additional information on the effects of the dam on the countries that receive Blue Nile waters. The opposition Dostour (Constitution) Party rejected joining in the meeting called by the presidency. Dostour spokesman Khaled Daoud said on Sunday evening that the invitation was sent late and that the party leader and founder, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, was travelling abroad. The party's deputy chairman, ambassador Shukri Fouad, gave a different explanation. According to ONA, ambassador Fouad said the party had declined the invitation as it sensed that the invitation for dialogue was not serious and that the meeting might end up in a photo session.
