Shoukry Back Home After Participating in Tripartite Meeting over GERD

Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, arrived at Cairo international airport earlier this morning following a visit to the United States of America.

During this visit, Shoukry took part in the meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in the presence of representatives from the World Bank, to resolve the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Shoukry announced that the meetings on the Renaissance Dam have resulted in positive outcomes that will set a course for negotiations and set a clear and specific timetable.

“The three states will hold four urgent meetings at the level of water resources ministers, with the participation of representatives from the United States and the World Bank, to reach an agreement on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam within two months by January 15, 2020,” the foreign minister noted.

He pointed out that two meetings will be held in Washington at the invitation of US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to assess the progress in these negotiations.

During the meetings, the Foreign Minister affirmed that Egypt is seeking to reach a balanced agreement that will enable Ethiopia to achieve the purpose of the Renaissance Dam without harming Egypt's water interests and rights, as the Nile water is an existential issue for Egypt.

Noteworthy, US President Trump invited the foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to attend a meeting in Washington to discuss the GERD crisis. The invitation was also extended by US Treasury Secretary to David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group.