The Egyptian Association for International Law and Legislation tackled in its annual conference on Saturday challenges facing national security when taken into consideration with current issues in international law.
The conference tackled three areas that fall under the pillar of national security. Those areas include terrorism, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and the Arab League’s role in combating those challenges.
Mofeed Shehab, an expert in international law, said during the conference that the conference aims to outline how to deal with those three issues in light of international legislation.
“The familiarity with the content of those legislations and identifying it clears the roadmap for the state’s institutions to deal with issues related to terrorism without breaching international standards of fighting terrorism,” he said.
Regarding the GERD issue, he said: “We strive to acquire Egypt’s right to the water through official and diplomatic negotiations and also preserve other countries’ rights.”
Meanwhile, former international law professor at Cairo University Ahmed Aboulwafa referred during the conference to Cyprus’ rejection to grant political asylum for the EgyptAir flight hijacker as a form of implementing international law regarding dealing with terrorists.
However, Saeed Gowily, another international law researcher, said there is still no clear definition for terrorists despite increased efforts to reach a definitive description.
The GERD has strained relations between Ethiopia and Egypt since construction began in 2011, with relations reaching their lowest point in 2013. Construction on the GERD is currently 60% complete.
Members of the tripartite committee of the GERD are preparing to present their final review of the technical studies on the construction of the dam to the water ministers of the three countries.
