From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed May 05 2010 - 10:59:01 EDT
"Omar also noted the importance of a meeting today between President Hosni
Mubarak and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afewerki. "[Eritrea] played a
great role in the Somali case, so coordination with it is important,
especially for security and peace in the Horn of Africa, which have
repercussions for Egypt."
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/fm-denies-nile-talks-are-impasse
Mon, 03/05/2010 - 11:40
FM denies Nile talks have reached impasse
Gomaa Hamadalla
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied yesterday that negotiations between
Egypt and other Nile basin countries have reached a dead end after the
failure of talks last month in Sharm el-Sheikh on a watersharing agreement.
"Its completely untrue. It's known that negotiations in any case may take
some time," said Mona Omar, the foreign minister's assistant for African
affairs, in a press statement.
"We won't stop negotiating and trying to achieve agreement in the light of
historical relations linking Egypt and the Nile basin countries--we can't
pretend we're not connected to each other."
Omar also said that media coverage of the Nile basin initiative has had a
negative effect on Egyptian interests, referring to writing and analysis
about potential wars over water.
When asked about media reports that Israel is behind the disagreement
between Egypt and other Nile basin countries, Omar replied that Egypt has a
greater presence in the Nile region than any other country, with the
ministries of foreign affairs, irrigation, and agriculture all having a
stake in the Nile basin issue as well as Egyptian businesses that carry out
major infrastructure projects.
Omar also noted the importance of a meeting today between President Hosni
Mubarak and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afewerki. "[Eritrea] played a
great role in the Somali case, so coordination with it is important,
especially for security and peace in the Horn of Africa, which have
repercussions for Egypt."
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga will also visit
Cairo later this month, according to Omar.
Kenya is one of the Nile basin countries who refuse to sign a new agreement
maintaining Egypt's right to the majority of Nile water, a policy that has
been in place since the 19th Century.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
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