Al-Sissi affirmed the importance of GERD For Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi affirmed the necessity to reach an obligatory legal agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Al-Sissi said during a press conference with Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who arrived in Cairo for an official three-day visit, that GERD was a matter of existence that affects the lives of Egyptians.
Moreover, Presidency spokesman Ambassador Bassam Rady declared that the bilateral gatherings debated matters of common concern and discussed the latest developments of the dam subject. The two delegations agreed to strengthen coordination in the next period.
Al-Sissi also affirmed the importance of the water matter for Egyptians as considered an issue of national security, indicating that a deal should be reached away from any unilateral approach that seeks to impose the fait accompli and ignore the basic rights of peoples.
The officials also talked about improving collaboration between the two countries in the fields of water resources and irrigation and studied common efforts to maximize the sustainable use of the water resources of the Nile River, saying: We have confirmed our vision to make the Nile River a source of cooperation and development as a lifeline for all the peoples of the Nile Basin countries.
Egyptian President also showed Egypt’s interest to back Burundi’s development projects, particularly in the sectors of infrastructure, electricity, health, mining, and agriculture via investments of specialized Egyptian companies that have wide experience in these fields.
On his part, Ndayishimiye expressed Burundi’s gratitude for its long and distinguished historical ties with Egypt. He also confirmed his country’s readiness to develop these ties in many fields, particularly trade exchange and economic cooperation.
The president repeated Burundi’s interest to improve the technical support that Egypt has provided to his country, as well as obtaining the Egyptian companies’ support to implement the infrastructure projects in the country.
Indeed, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan are in negotiations to find solution for the disagreement about the GERD matter for about ten years, hoping to conclude a legal agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the dam.
Addis Ababa initiated in 2011 establishing the dam to produce power. It is currently preparing to start the second phase of filling the reservoir in the next months, although warnings from Sudan and Egypt. On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that the second filling of the GERD would go ahead as programmed during the country’s rainy season in July.
