Egyptian share of Nile water not subject to compromise: FM

Cairo – 22 June 2017: Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid emphasized that the security of Egypt’s share of Nile water is not subject to compromise in a Wednesday post on his official Twitter account.

Egypt Water Security not subject to compromise. Delegation 2 prep mtngs keen 4 successful Summit, trust building, despite tough negotiations

— Egypt MFA Spokesman (@MfaEgypt) June 22, 2017

Abo Zeid’s tweet was on the occasion of the Nile Basin Summit meeting held on Wednesday, whereby the Egyptian delegation negotiated with other Nile Basin countries. That the success of the summit will allow Nile Basin countries to build trust “despite tough negotiations,” his tweet added.

In a press statements Sunday, Abu Zeid said the Nile Basin Summit is considered an unique historical event because it is the first summit to assemble all Nile Basin countries. This leads the way for many collaborative opportunities beyond waterways, he said, adding that the countries seek collaboration and growth in many development sectors. The population of the Nile Basin countries is over 500 million, and the area has enough energy, natural resources and labor force to achieve all goals for growth, he said.

Abu Zeid also said Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will participate in the summit’s preparatory meeting with a clear Egyptian vision and direct instructions from President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

Ultimately, the collaborations would extend beyond development and include cultural and security collaboration as well as political alliances, he said.

He added that Egypt is open to collaboration with all Nile Basin countries with no conditions. Egypt also hopes that neighboring countries will join efforts on smaller Nile ponds. Moreover, these efforts should be based on the principle of shared success and to not affect the interest of the other Nile Basin countries, he said, adding that “it is time that the Nile Basin countries set an example for such a successful experience.”

Abu Zeid concluded his statement by highlighting the opportunities the initiative presents. It represents a new way of collaboration as well as building culture and making profit, he said. If it is based on agreed terms then this will be in the interest of all the countries without any exceptions. “Egypt is now looking into spending the next summit attempting to achieve a common vision and to reactivate the initiative based on those principles,” he said.

President Sisi flew to Uganda early Thursday to attend the summit.

The leaders of other Nile Basin countries will also be in Uganda for the summit, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Desalegn is expected to meet with Sisi on the sidelines of the summit and will participate in a closed session comprising the leaders of Nile Basin countries.

The summit comes as a result of Uganda’s mediation to bring Nile Basin countries together to the negotiation table to resolve conflicts and implement pending mutual projects. Conflict over the terms of the Entebbe Agreement cause some countries to withdraw from Nile Basin Initiative cooperation programs.

The 11 Nile Basin countries are Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.