Egypt committed to declaration of principles on Renaissance Dam, says Foreign Minister

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has reiterated his country’s commitment to the full implementation of the declaration of principles signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

“When the implementation of the agreement is completed it will be a successful model for cooperation in the Nile Basin”, the minister said during a press conference held by Shoukry and his Ethiopian counterpart, Werneke Jebio, in Cairo.

The Egyptian minister added that “Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn’s visit to Cairo is a clear indication of the political will of both countries to overcome any obstacles that hinder promising prospects between the two countries”.

Read: Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam is making waves in Egypt

He stressed Egypt’s commitment to strengthen security and strategic cooperation with Ethiopia.

The leaders of the three countries signed the agreement in March 2015, which aimed to safeguard Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia water interests in the Nile River.

Earlier in the day the Ethiopian prime minister and foreign minister arrived in Cairo heading a delegation of ministers of trade, health, investment, irrigation and electricity.

This is the first visit by an Ethiopian official to Egypt since Cairo announced in November it would be freezing talks with Ethiopia and Sudan over disagreements regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Egypt fears the dam will negatively affect its annual share of Nile water, estimated at 55.5 billion cubic metres, and its main water source.