Egyptian Foreign Minister: Russia understands our demand for a binding agreement on the Renaissance Dam, and Lavrov considers the tripartite dialogue the best option.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that he discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the issue of the Renaissance Dam and the recent Kinshasa meetings and spoke of a Russian understanding of Egypt's position, while Lavrov stressed that the tripartite dialogue is the best option to solve the Renaissance Dam crisis.

In a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, he said that he found Russia's understanding of "our position calling for a binding agreement that would achieve the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia."

He stressed that Egypt is relying on relations with Russia to prevent Ethiopia from taking unilateral measures in the Renaissance Dam, noting that any unilateral measures by Ethiopia will have repercussions on Egypt and Sudan.

And he considered that "the Nile water is an existential matter for the two downstream countries, and this is not compatible with unilateral measures."

And on the involvement of international parties in the mediation related to the Renaissance Dam crisis, Shoukry said that the proposal to activate the international quartet on the Renaissance Dam would stimulate negotiations.

On the Libyan issue, Shoukry called for the departure of foreign forces from the Libyan territories and stressed support for the decisions of the Joint Military Committee.

Lavrov's statements

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country supports the efforts of the African Union in the negotiations of the Renaissance Dam, and believes that the tripartite dialogue is the best solution to solve the Renaissance Dam crisis.

He stressed the importance of the parties to the Renaissance Dam negotiations reaching an agreed solution that preserves the interests of all parties.

On other issues, Lavrov said that normalization with Israel should not lead to the marginalization of the Palestinian cause.

He affirmed his country's support for all the Libyans had reached to solve their crisis on their own, and supported the decisions of the Joint Military Committee in Libya known as the 5 + 5 Committee.

He said that Russia is sure that Syria will return to the Arab League and resume its membership in it.

He also stressed Moscow's support for political settlements of all disputes, including regional conflicts in the region.

On the Ukrainian issue, Lavrov said that Russian forces are deployed there on the border with Ukraine, because those territories are Russian.