KSA shows support to Egypt, Sudan in GERD crisis
Saudi Arabia affirmed its continued support for Egypt and Sudan in preserving their legitimate water rights in the file of the Renaissance Dam.
In a statement published by SPA, the Kingdom reiterated the importance of stabilizing water security for Egypt, Sudan, the Arab world, and the African continent.
The statement continued: “In this context, the Kingdom supports the efforts of Egypt and Sudan to contain this crisis and their demands to solve it following the rules of international law.”
Saudi Arabia also confirmed its support for international moves to find a binding solution to end this crisis.
The KSA called on the international community to “intensify efforts to find a clear mechanism to start negotiations between the three countries (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia) to get out of this crisis in line with their interests, the interests of the Nile Basin countries and the future of the peoples of the region according to international auspices and agreement with the African Union and the Arab League.”
That comes as the UN called for Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to renew their commitment to talks on the issue of the Renaissance Dam and urged the three countries to avoid any unilateral action a day after Ethiopia began filling the dam’s reservoir.
This week, the United Nations Security Council is likely to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue after Egypt and Sudan asked for it.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters in New York that Guterres supports the African Union’s role in mediating between the three countries.
“It is also important not to take any unilateral action that could undermine the search for solutions,” Dujarric said on Tuesday. “It is therefore important that people renew their commitment to dialogue in good faith in a real (negotiating) process.”
Ethiopia says the dam, which it is building on the Blue Nile, is essential to its economic development and to supply its people with electricity.
Meanwhile, Egypt sees the dam as a severe threat to its share of the Nile waters, on which it depends almost entirely. Sudan, which is also an estuary country, expressed concern about the construction safety of the dam and its impact on Sudanese dams and water stations.
“Solutions to this issue need to be guided by examples and models found by others sharing waterways and rivers, and this is based on the principle of fair and reasonable use and a commitment not to cause significant harm,” Dujarric said.
