Egypt’s delegation to clarify facts about GERD in Paris

CAIRO – 11 December 2017: A high-level Egyptian delegation headed by Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Ati travelled to Paris to participate in a Conference on Water Diplomacy and Climate Change for Peace in the Middle East on December 11.

The conference will discuss the Egyptian vision of the possibility of promoting cooperation between the riparian countries on the Nile basin.

It will also review the current Egyptian efforts to choose diplomatic channels of water diplomacy and dialogue initiatives with the concerned countries during the conference.

“Paris conference is an attempt to emphasize the Egyptian historical, technical, legal and political constants in the Nile water file and clarify the missing facts regarding the issue of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” said Minister of Irrigation Abdel Ati.

Abdel Ati pointed out that the recent tripartite meeting between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) ended in Cairo without consensus over its filling and operation. He stressed that Egypt cannot dispense with the Nile, ruling out the desalination of sea water to fill the gap.

"The only solution is to continue negotiations, as the Nile water represents a national security issue for Egypt,” Abdel Ati added.

Abdel Ati will represent Egypt in the preparatory meetings for the 8th World Water Forum that will be held in the French capital on December 13, 14.