Egypt called on Russia to pressure Ethiopia to refrain from taking unilateral measures regarding the Renaissance Dam, during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Cairo, while Ethiopia said it addressed all Sudan's concerns, and that Egypt did not recognize what it described as the Ethiopian generosity.
The Egyptian presidency said that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Russian Foreign Minister on Monday and discussed with him a number of important issues, foremost among them the issue of the Renaissance Dam and the situation in Libya.
During the meeting - which was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry - Al-Sisi stressed that Egypt gives the dam file the utmost attention, as it affects Egypt's national security, by reaching a comprehensive and binding legal agreement between the three countries regarding the rules for filling and operating the dam.
Al-Sisi stressed that failure to resolve this issue would negatively affect the security and stability of the entire region.
For his part, Lavrov stressed his country's rejection of prejudice to Egypt's historical water rights in the Nile waters and rejected unilateral measures in this regard, expressing his country's aspiration to reach a solution that achieves the interests of all parties through negotiations as soon as possible, according to the statement of the Egyptian presidency.
The foreign ministers of the two countries held a joint press conference after the meeting, in which Shoukry said that Cairo is counting on Moscow because of its ability to influence Ethiopia to refrain from taking unilateral measures.
For his part, Lavrov stressed the need to reach an agreement to resolve the Renaissance Dam crisis in a manner that preserves the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, and said that Moscow sees great importance for the role of the African Union in this regard.
The Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Russia at a joint press conference (Anadolu Agency)
Ethiopian statement
On the other hand, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued yesterday, denounced Sudan's refusal to start the second phase of filling the Ethiopian dam on the Blue Nile, stressing that it addressed all the concerns that anger Khartoum.
The statement mentioned that Addis Ababa had provided the necessary data and information in this regard, and said that the safety of the dam is an issue that concerns Ethiopia in the first place.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry added that Sudanese officials have praised for years the importance of the dam to prevent floods and regulate the flow of water for irrigation.
With regard to Egypt, Addis Ababa believed that Cairo did not recognize Ethiopia's generosity and its understanding of holding negotiations in good faith, according to the statement.
These statements come a week after the Kinshasa meetings failed to reach an agreement sponsored by the African Union, as Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia exchanged accusations of responsibility for the failure.
Addis Ababa insists on the second filling of the dam next July, even without an agreement, while Cairo and Khartoum insist on reaching an agreement to preserve their water facilities and ensure the continuation of their annual share of the Nile water flow.