Nile River is source of development not conflict: Al-Sisi
Date
1/20/2018 7:12:09 AM
(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn signed Thursday several bilateral agreements in context of Desalegn€™s first visit to Egypt. The signing included an agreement for cooperation in the industrial field to establish an Egyptian economic zone in Ethiopia.
Desalegn€™s visit to Cairo comes amid controversy in Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is believed to affect Egypt€™s share of water.
The discussions between the two leaders also included signing the report of the Egyptian-Ethiopian mutual committee, what means promoting the level of the committee€™s work to the presidential, rather than the ministerial, level.
During a press conference following the meeting, Al-Sisi said that Desalegn€™s visit to Egypt confirms the honest intentions between the two sides. €œWe are interested in boosting relations between Egypt and Ethiopia in the different fields,€ Al-Sisi added.
Regarding the GERD, the president said that the Nile River basin is a source of development not conflict, adding: €œI€™ve expressed concerns to Desalegn regarding halting negotiations on the GERD€.
Al-Sisi further added that Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia are working on passing the current critical situation, praising Ethiopia€™s interest in preventing any harm to Egypt€™s water share. €œWe proposed the World Bank as a neutral side in GERD negotiations,€ Al-Sisi added.
The Ethiopian prime minister stressed his country€™s commitment to work with the technical team regarding the GERD, asserting that Ethiopia understands Egypt€™s concerns over GERD, which he stressed, will not affect Egypt€™s water security.
Desalegn added that he discussed with Al-Sisi different issues including combating terrorism.
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