CAIRO, Nov 1 (NNN-MENA) – The Arab Parliament, on Thursday, urged Ethiopia not to harm Egypt’s share of the Nile River water.
Citing historical ties between Egypt and Ethiopia, the Arab parliament urged Ethiopia to reach a deal on the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
It expressed its solidarity with Egypt, in protecting its water security and in maintaining its legal rights and fixed share of the Nile River.
Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, told the Arab Parliament that, Egypt is looking forward to signing a legal deal with Ethiopia and Sudan, over the GERD issue, scheduled in Washington on Nov 6.
Shoukry demanded coordination of “the Arab and African efforts, to promote the Ethiopian side to reach an agreement that guarantees the rights of all parties.”
The GERD is a dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia, which has been under construction since 2011.
Egypt, a downstream Nile Basin country, that relies on the river for its fresh water, is concerned that the construction of the GERD might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-metre annual share of the river water.
GERD is expected to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity, and become the largest hydro-power dam in Africa upon completion.– NNN-MENA