Tunisia had hoped for GERD agreement instead of Security Council escalation: Tunisian amb.

CAIRO – 14 August 2021: Tunisia “did not wish” that the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s issue would have escalated to the Security Council and had hoped a legally-binding agreement could have been reached to guarantee “Ethiopia’s right to development and the two downstream nations’ to water.”

Tunisian ambassador to Cairo Mohamed ben Youssef said that to Al-Nahar T.V. channel on Friday, adding that his country’s stance on GERD is not supportive of Egypt, but is rather a “duty” towards a major sisterly country.

The ambassador also said GERD is a matter of national security to Egypt and Sudan, and Egypt’s national security is part of Tunisia’s.

Although Tunisia did not wish an escalation to the Security Council, and rather wished for an agreement per the international law, but it represents all Arab countries during this term and so President Kais Saeid ordered full support for Egypt’s actions, ben Youssef said.

Tunisia played a major role through continuous presidential and ministerial coordination and tried to obtain a resolution from the Security Council, but it was not ready for this step and referred the matter back to the African Union, he continued.

He emphasized that Tunisia is always ready to offer any support that could push any mechanism forward and reach an agreement.