Sisi: GERD Existential Issue, Egypt Never Accepts Harming Its Water Interests

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi told Wednesday the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman that "The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is an existential issue for Egypt, which will not accept harming its water interests or compromising the capabilities of its people."

Sisi received Feltman in the presence of Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdel Atty, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and the US Ambassador to Cairo Jonathan Cohen, according to Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

Rady added Sisi congratulated the US envoy on his appointment to this new position, wishing him success in that mission and in dealing with the issues of the region, in a way that enhances security, stability and development in it, especially at a time when the Horn of Africa region faces many complex challenges which threaten to undermine stability, and hence the importance of intensive US engagement to contain these challenges.

In this regard, Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States within the framework of the extended strategic partnership relations between the two friendly countries and the vital role of that partnership in achieving stability in the Middle East and the African continent.

For his part, Feltman asserted that the United States valued strategic relations with Egypt, in light of the political weight and the pivotal role that Egypt enjoys in its regional environment, which contributes to achieving balance in the region, and the US keenness to advance cooperation frameworks between the two friendly countries, bilaterally and regionally.

Sisi and Feltman, also, discussed a number of regional files in the Horn of Africa, most notably the developments of the Renaissance Dam issue.

"Mr. Feltman stressed that the US administration is serious about solving this sensitive issue given the great importance it represents to Egypt and the region, which requires reaching a fair and comprehensive settlement," Rady noted.

Sisi pointed out the flexible approach of Egypt in dealing with this issue over the past years in the various negotiation tracks, which has long been based on seeking to reach a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement that fulfills the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, and takes into account Egypt's rights and interests, its water security, and avoiding any harm.

"However, all the efforts that were made during the negotiation process did not reach the desired agreement due to the absence of the political will of the other party," the president said.

He also affirmed that Egypt is still seeking to reach a fair, just and legally binding agreement to fill and operate the dam, including through the negotiation track sponsored by the African Union with the able leadership of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, stressing that this issue is an existential issue with regard to Egypt, which will not accept harming its water interests or compromising the capabilities of its people, and hence the importance of the international community assumes its responsibilities in resolving this crisis and the vitality of the US role to play an influential role in this regard.