Egypt’s FM Shoukry says Renaissance Dam agreement should be reached before 2nd filling

CAIRO – 10 March 2021:  Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed Wednesday several issues with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, including relations between Egypt and the EU as well as the latest developments of the Renaissance Dam file and other regional updates.

During a phone call, both officials discussed ways to boosting joint cooperation between Egypt and the EU in different domains, according to spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said Shoukry made

During the contact, Shoukry presented Egypt's position on the need to reach a just, balanced and lawful agreement on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam through serious negotiations bringing together the three relevant countries.

Shoukry expounded the proposal submitted by Sudan and supported by Egypt which calls for the development of the negotiating mechanism through forming an international quartet led by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its capacity as the current chair of the African Union and that includes the United Nations, the European Union and the United States as members.

The Quartet aims at reaching a negotiable solution to Ethiopia dam, he said, underlining the importance of European involvement in this regard and the role the EU could play in any future negotiations.

He hoped these efforts would be crowned with an agreement that takes into consideration the interests of the three countries, saying any agreement should be reached before the start of the next flooding season as Ethiopia plans to start the second stage of filling.

Shoukry and Borrell exchanged viewpoints on regional files, with special focus on the developments in Libya, the Palestinian cause along with efforts aimed at pushing forward the peace process in the Middle East region.

In a statement, Tuesday, President Abdel Fattah el Sisi said that Nile River is ‘life itself’ for both of Egypt and Sudan, so they are still calling on reaching a legal-binding agreement regarding the Renaissance Dam filling and operating.

He further added that Egypt does not refuse any benefits Ethiopia will gain as a result of the dam; however, ‘we are insisting on continuing the negotiations which will lead to a win-win legal-binding agreement’ Sisi said.

“What unites us with Nile River is much stronger than any form of disagreement” Sisi affirmed, noting that negotiations cannot last forever.