Egypt's FM: We are seeking an agreement that preserves our right to Nile water and Ethiopia's right to development

CAIRO - 3 March 2020: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry appreciated on Wednesday the Arab role in supporting Egypt and Sudan's stance on the issue of the Renaissance Dam.

"We did not wish to detract any party’s right;we are seeking to reach an agreement that guarantees our legitimate rights and does not detract from Ethiopia's right to development and the rights of Egypt and Sudan in the waters of the Nile," the foreign minister said during his speech at the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.

Shoukry affirmed Egypt's keenness to keep the Palestinian issue on the international agenda, pointing out that the Palestinian issue had been subjected to a deep crisis during the previous period.

Furthermore, the foreign minister renewed Egypt's support for the Libyan-Libyan negotiations to achieve a political solution.

Regarding the Syrian crisis, Shoukry stressed that the exit of all foreign forces from Syria is necessary to address the crisis, through a political solution, annulling the Turkish occupation and defeating terrorist organizations that seek to destroy Syria and the Arab countries.

The foreign minister affirmed that the Syrian crisis has been in a vicious circle for 10 years. “The Syrian people have been suffering, without hope for a better near-future,” Minister Shoukry said, indicating that the return of Syria as an effective and stable country is vital to maintain Arab national security.

Shoukry asserted his rejection of the continuation of Turkish interventions in the region, which includes the presence of armed forces on Arab countries’ territories, only resulting in deepening differences.