Egypt affirms to US the need to reach binding deal on GERD before 2nd dam filling

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Sat, 27 Mar 2021 - 10:07 GMT

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Sat, 27 Mar 2021 - 10:07 GMT

Deputy Egyptian Foreign Minister Hamdy Loza meets with US Special Envoy for Sudan Donald Booth on Saturday in Cairo - Egyptian Foreign Ministry

Deputy Egyptian Foreign Minister Hamdy Loza meets with US Special Envoy for Sudan Donald Booth on Saturday in Cairo - Egyptian Foreign Ministry

CAIRO – 27 March 2021: Deputy Egyptian Foreign Minister Hamdy Loza affirmed to US Special Envoy for Sudan Donald Booth on Saturday Egypt’s adherence to the need to reach a legally binding agreement on the Renaissance Dam (GERD) before Ethiopia completes the dam filling.

As he received Booth in Cairo, Loza highlighted the need to reach an agreement on filling and operating the massive dam as soon as possible, in order to ensure that Egypt and Sudan are not negatively affected by the dam filling, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Loza stressed to Booth that negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia should be colored by seriousness and effectiveness.

This will contribute to maximizing their chances of success of the talks and allow the three countries to reach a just, balanced and legally binding agreement that achieves the mutual interests of all countries and preserve Egypt’s water rights, Loza said.

Booth’s visit to Egypt comes as part of an official visit that also includes Sudan, DR Congo, the current chair of the African Union as well as Ethiopia to consult on the means to advance the negotiations on the GERD dispute.

Rounds of negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have reached a deadlock several times.

Egypt and Sudan insist that a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam should be reached before Ethiopia implements the second phase of dam filling.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, reiterated that it would complete filling the dam in July whether an agreement is reached or not.

While Ethiopia affirms it would not significantly harm the Egyptian and Sudanese water interests, Sudan warned that that the second filling without a deal can endanger the lives of millions of Sudanese people living on the Nile River banks.

Egypt has frequently condemned the Ethiopian plans to implement the second filling unilaterally.

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