Spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation Mohamed El Sebaei said that his country was not affected by the initial mobilization of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, because it depends on a reserve stock in Lake Nasser (High Dam Lake).
But he added - in press statements published on the ministry's Facebook page - that Egypt has a great fear of prolonged drought or drought.
He pointed out that the main point of disagreement with Ethiopia is the need to cooperate in managing the drought period, stressing that Ethiopia has the right to achieve development without causing serious harm to Egypt, as he put it.
A few days ago, Ethiopia celebrated the completion of the first stage of the process of filling the reservoir of the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile. Sudan recently monitored a decrease in the Blue Nile level.
With these developments, a spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation said that his country is capable of preserving every drop of water as he put it, and that all Egyptian state institutions have their steps and role in this file. He called on the world to assume its responsibilities in front of what it described as an international, not a regional, crisis.
Sisi and Ramavoza discussions
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed the developments of the Renaissance Dam file in a phone call yesterday evening with South African President Cyril Ramafuza, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the African Union.
The talks between the two sides came within the framework of what was discussed during the recent African mini-summit to gather leaders of the three countries involved in the dam file.
According to the spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, Sisi reiterated the "Egyptian constants" regarding the Renaissance Dam, especially with regard to the elaboration of a legal agreement between the parties concerned regarding the rules for filling and operating the dam, and rejecting any unilateral action that would prejudice the rights of Egypt in the waters of the Nile.
Sudan's demands
On the other hand, the Sudanese Minister of Irrigation Yasser Abbas expressed his aspiration to hold a decisive round of negotiations with a specific timeframe for the Renaissance Dam.
Abbas said that this round should have a clear agenda to address outstanding issues. He called for adherence to this agenda, without raising issues outside the scope of the negotiations on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam and future projects.
The Sudanese News Agency quoted a spokesman for the Sudanese negotiating delegation as calling for experts to be given a greater role during the upcoming negotiation stages, to help Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan reach an agreement.