Egypt asserts importance of resuming GERD crisis negotiations

Egypt asserts importance of resuming GERD crisis negotiations

Egypt has asserted the importance of resuming negotiations on the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in order to reach a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the dam. Another round of tripartite negotiations between the respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Water, from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, kicked off on Thursday.The meeting was chaired by South Africa's Ministry of Foreign, as the country is the current president of the African Union (AU).The meeting was held via video conference, Ahmed Hafez, Spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on his Twitter account.Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aaty highlighted the importance of applying the decisions from the AU meetings held over the past months. Egypt has also expressed its aspiration to participate in the next round of talks, in order to reach a fair and balanced agreement that achieves the common interests of the three countries, and preserves their water right. On Wednesday, the Egyptian Embassy in London organised a webinar with UK hydrologists and experts in African affairs, to discuss the Ethiopian dam negotiations. The webinar also sought to explain Egypt's efforts to reach a fair agreement,