Arab countries voice solidarity with Egypt over water rights

CAIRO - 31 March 2020:Arab countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and others voiced full solidarity with Egypt in preserving its national and water security, protecting the interests of its people and its legitimate right to life.

The Kingdom of Bahrain voiced full solidarity with Egypt in preserving its national and water security, as well as its sincere efforts to achieve regional peace and stability, BNA reported.

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry expressed the Kingdom's support for the efforts made to solve the crisis of filling and operating the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) in a way that preserves the water and economic rights of the countries of the Nile downstream states in accordance with international law.

It stressed the need for Nile Basin countries to be able to achieve their ambitions for development and economic growth, in order to preserve security, peace and stability in the region.

Saudi Arabia expressed on Tuesday its solidarity with Egypt and Sudan and support to their efforts to protect their shares to the River Nile water, stressing that their water security is part and parcel of the Arab region’s security.

In a statement cited by the Saudi Press Agency, the kingdom said it backs all endeavors aimed at resolving the Ethiopian dam dispute and serving the interest of all parties involved.

It called for continuing negotiations in good faith to reach a fair and binding deal that serves the benefit of all the disputing sides and protects the water rights of all Nile Basin countries at the earliest possible time in line with international law and fundamental norms.