Egypt has reached an agreement with Ethiopia to re-examine their differences in a recent dispute caused by upstream states’ attempt to negotiate a new Nile water sharing accord, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
In remarks delivered to the press on Tuesday, Abul Gheit said the new agreement came as a result of International Cooperation Minister Fayza Abul Naga’s recent visit to Ethiopia as well as his own efforts. Abul Gheit said the nine Nile Basin states would soon meet in Nairobi to re-visit contentious issues which have divided them.
“Our visit was successful and went a long way towards the development of mutual understanding between Egypt and Ethiopia,” said the foreign minister. “However, we are certain that the Nile issue will take decades to fully settle.”
When asked if he would visit any of the other Nile Basin states, Abul Gheit replied, “It’s likely as Egyptian ministers are always traveling around the basin states.”
The foreign minister stressed that his and Abul Naga’s visit to Ethiopia was not the first such visit nor would it be the last.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
