FM: Egypt has right to defend its water security

CAIR0 – 20 October 2024: Egypt has reserved its right to defend its water security, as guaranteed by international law and the United Nations Charter, said Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Badr Abdelatty during a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Luminița Odobescu in Cairo, on Monday.

Abdelatty confirmed that he discussed several regional and international issues with the Romanian Foreign Minister, with a particular focus on the water issue, which he described as existential for Egypt.

The Egyptian Minister stated that he explained to the minister the critical importance of the water issue and how it has been toppled during all negotiation tracks that took place by the Ethiopian side over the course of 13 years, which have yielded no results. Egypt has announced its decision to halt the negotiation track.”

Abdelarry also addressed the Palestinian issue, highlighting the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people due to Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He noted that he discussed Egypt's collaborative efforts with Qatar and the United States to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of all hostages.

He remarked that the visit of the Romanian Foreign Minister is part of a series of important exchanges between the two countries in recent years, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Bucharest in June 2019.

The Egyptian Minister also discussed with his Romanian counterpart the situations in Libya, Sudan, and Yemen, emphasizing their shared view on the critical importance of preventing escalation and avoiding the expansion of regional conflicts. They both agreed on the need to prevent the region from descending into a broader war.

Training course on post-conflict stability in Sahel

During a discussion session between Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Badr Abdelatty and his Romanian Luminița Odobescu, both dides explored ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between their countries. The meeting covered significant developments related to issues of mutual interest on regional and international fronts.

Following the consultation, a press conference was held for the foreign ministers, attended by Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture. They inaugurated a training course on reconstruction, development, and post-conflict stability in the Sahel region, organized by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding in collaboration with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Agency for Development.

In his speech, Abdelatty emphasized that this training course is the first of its kind between Egypt and Romania on the topic of reconstruction, highlighting the existing coordination on matters of common interest. He noted that this initiative reflects the significant interest both countries have in their relations with African nations, particularly in the Sahel region, and in reconstruction and development efforts following conflicts.

Abdelatty also pointed out that this training program coincides with Egypt’s presidency of the African Peace and Security Council, during which Egypt is committed to enhancing its contributions to crisis prevention and resolution in Africa.