Egypt's FM heads for New York for preparations for UNSC meeting on Ethiopia dam

CAIRO - 4 July 2020: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoury headed on Sunday for New York within the framework of preparations for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GRED).

The UNSC meeting comes at a request from Egypt and Sudan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said Shoukry will hold a series of intensive meetings with his counterparts, UN officials and permanent delegates to the UNSC.

Egypt seeks to reach a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the dam that takes into consideration the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. 

Shoukry said Egypt has been engaged in negotiations for 10 years to settle the crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam but in vain due to Ethiopia’s intransigence.

Speaking to DMC TV channel on Saturday, the minister said Egypt is set to submit a review of the current situation of this issue to the UN Security Council session on Thursday.

He highlighted Ethiopia’s repeated statements on the second filing of the dam, noting that such steps contradict the Nile River-linked treaties.

The minister pointed out that such moves taken by Ethiopia pose threats to international peace and security, so the Security Council should assumes its responsibility to contain any possible escalation on this score.

Shoukry added that the African Union sought to solve this issue but in vain due to Ethiopia’s stubbornness.