Apr 20 2010

Minister stresses Egypt's right to Nile water in Parliament

CAIRO: Egypt won't sign any agreements that would hamper its "historical rights" to Nile water, the Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources told Parliament Monday.

"If Nile basin countries unilaterally sign a water-sharing agreement, it will be in violation of international law and the Nile basin initiative which was signed in 1959," Minister Mohamed Nasr Eldin Allam said.

"Egypt will not be obliged by this agreement which will not be legal," he added.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils Mofid Shehab reiterated that international laws governing international rivers prohibit any of the countries through which the river passes from any act that would hamper navigation, affect its water or threaten the interests of other countries.

Shehab referred to numerous agreements struck with all Nile basin countries -- 1891, 1906, 1925, 1929, 1959 and 1991 -- that continue to be valid regardless of regime change.

In 1929 Egypt had signed an agreement with Britain as a representative of the occupied Nile basin countries, which gives Egypt 55.5 billion cubic meters of water each year -- 87 percent of the Nile's flow -- and Sudan 18.5 billion cubic meters.

"Egypt reserves the right to take whatever course it sees suitable to safeguard its share," Allam said.

"If the Nile basin countries unilaterally sign the agreement, this would be considered a declaration of the Nile Basin Initiative's death," he said.

But many maintain that diplomacy remains the only viable solution to any conflicts arising over water rights.

During the parliamentary session Zakaria Azmi, chief of the presidential staff, objected to National Democratic Party MP Abdel-Rehim El-Ghoul's statement that future wars would be over water and "we welcome this war if it is imposed to us."

Azmi explained that "this is a serious issue which should be handled with diplomacy." In response, El-Ghoul retracted his statement and asked to delete it from the PA records.

Parliament Speaker Fathi Sorour commented that the relationship between Nile basin countries must be conducted in a spirit of brotherhood.

During negotiations held in Sharm El-Sheikh last week, however, the 10 African governments failed to reach an agreement.

In addition to maintaining its current share of Nile water, Egypt insisted on having veto power over any new irrigation projects undertaken by the other nine countries.

The Sub-Saharan African states have rejected the clause and called for the signing of a revised agreement.

By Magdy Samaan

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Comments By Our Users (2)

01 Yohannes Habesha
23 Apr 2010

First of all’ Historic' rights of Nile waters' there is no such a thing. That is a laughable and outdated injustice of the past British colonial era. As you Arabs are entitled to use and sell your natural resources, we (Ethiopians)Africans also have a right to use our natural resources as we wish, if you think you can keep the statuesque as it is while many Africans are dying from hunger it's not only unfair it also immoral.

“In 1929 Egypt had signed an agreement with Britain as a representative of the occupied Nile basin countries” We Ethiopians never colonized by any country and we did not sign that agreement. The last time I checked Egypt also get her independence from Britain a long time a go, if you want go back to that time it’s up to you, as far as Abay (Nile)concerned we are going to use it for irrigation agriculture and Energy, So get used to it. Stop your blaff.

Replies

NABIEL ELGAMAL
26 Apr 2010

Dear Sir
First of all I would to introduce my self as ordinary citizen in Egypt
and never had any political in my country so what I mean from this
that let us talk a friendly talk if you allow me
1-To the best of my knowledge we as African basin countries benefit only not more than 5% of the Nile water & the rest lost in evaporation in its way due the swamps also the floating plants which absorb huge quantities of the water which we cooperate together to complete some projects to reduce those loses I think no body will complain from water scarcity
2- why instead of use the Nile as a cause of conflict while he should be a cause of unity
Some media converted the negotiation to conflict - as we say in Egypt they distinguish the fire by Gasoline instead of using water
3- If the politicians misleading us why we don't put them right ..it our life & we whom will pay at the end not them
4- The is the gift of GOD to our Nations so let us thank GOD for this git & cooperate together to get the best out of it by love not by hate

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