Egypt’s Higher Committee for Nile Water met on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly comes two days ahead of a scheduled meeting between the foreign and irrigation ministers of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over the mega Blue Nile dam.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Aaty, and representatives from the General Intelligence Service (GIS).
The current round of meetings comes under the outcomes of the ministerial meeting on 16 August that took place between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Water Resources, from the three countries, and the outcomes of the 21 July mini-summit that gathered leaders of the parties with South Africa, the current chair of the African Union (AU).
The three African countries are scheduled to hold a meeting on 19 November to discuss how to reach a legally-binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating of the giant Blue Nile dam.
Also on Tuesday Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, met with Italian Ambassador to Cairo, Giampaolo Cantini, where they tackled the latest developments regarding the GERD negotiations.
Abdel Aaty stressed Egypt’s clear desire to complete the negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement that preserves the country’s water rights and benefits of all related parties.
He also emphasised the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement on the GERD.
