Irrigation minister stresses imp. of African cooperation to achieve water sustainability

CAIRO, Nov 4 (MENA) - Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Aati has stressed the importance of collective action among African countries in order to achieve sustainable development and secure drinking water.

All resources should be used to achieve water sustainability, Abdel Aati said in a meeting of the African affairs committee of parliament Monday.

He reviewed his Ministry's plan of action to support cooperation with Nile Basin countries, as well as Egypt's moves to handle the file of Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam.

Egypt is acting to maximize cooperation with Nile Basin countries with the aim to reach compatible solutions that would maintain interests of all sides and guarantee optimal use of water losses, Abdel Aati said.

This is done to avoid conflicts over water quotas, the minister said, stressing, however, that Egypt's historical water rights should remain untouched.

He also stressed the importance of using groundwater in Africa as another source of water.