Negotiations between Egypt and fellow states of the Nile Basin over a proposed cooperation framework agreement have not reached an impasse, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Ministry sources say that consultations with the Nile Basin countries, aimed at reaching a version of the agreement acceptable to all parties, were ongoing.
Mona Omar, assistant foreign minister for African affairs, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that there were some outstanding differences over certain articles of the proposed agreement.
At earlier meetings held in the northern city of Alexandria, it was agreed that negotiations would continue for an additional six months until compromise was reached, Omar said.
She added that Egypt’s relations with Nile Basin countries were "brotherly" in nature, governed by a "common destiny" and could never be affected by mere differences in opinion.
"We will continue implementing cooperation projects with these countries," Omar stressed, pointing out that the coming stage would likely see more visits by Egyptian officials to African countries in general and Nile Basin states in particular.
Omar also said that FM Ahmed Abul Gheit planned to visit Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa towards the end of the month, where he will chair a scheduled meeting of the joint Egyptian-Ethiopian Committee. Abul Gheit is also slated to visit South Africa on 18 and 19 March, she added.
Responding to questions on a recent visit by Iran’s foreign minister to the Nile Basin, Omar said that such activity was not of particular concern to Egyptian officials.
"All countries have the right to look after their interests in the Nile Basin, so long as those interests don’t clash with Egyptian interests," she said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
