South Sudanese Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Paul Mayom Akec said his country is not considering projects that could threaten Egypt's water security.
He added that his country's relations with Israel do not involve cooperation in the water sector that could have negative repercussions for neighboring countries.
Regarding South Sudan's relations with Israel, the minister said that his country is ready to cooperate with any country that wishes to have a relationship, even if that country is Israel.
In statements to the press on the sidelines of the African Water Week meetings, Akec ruled out the possibility of cooperation with Israel in the field of large scale water projects on the Nile, adding that South Sudan has not signed any agreements on water projects with Israel so far.
Israel trains South Sudanese citizens so that South Sudan can benefit from Israel’s experience in the field of water resource management, he said.
Concerning relations with Egypt, Akec said Egyptian projects in South Sudan are progressing slowly due to the unrest that followed the 25 January revolution.
Meanwhile, Sudanese Minister of Water Resources Saif Eddin Hamad Abdallah said the African Water Week meetings are intended to establish mechanisms to implement joint projects between African countries to increase water supply in certain areas, expand the scope of sanitary drainage projects and improve health conditions.
He said meetings for African ministers of water resources constitute an occasion to discuss issues that are not on formal meeting agendas, adding that Nile Basin water problems could be discussed.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
