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Egypt Complains of ‘Water Struggles’ as Security Council Tackles Dam Crisis with Ethiopia

A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt Complains of ‘Water Struggles’ as Security Council Tackles Dam Crisis with Ethiopia

A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Egypt complained on Monday of its “water struggles” as the United Nations Security Council was addressing Cairo’s dispute with Addis Ababa over the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty said Egypt suffers from an annual 21 billion cubic meter gap between water consumption and production.

It is ranked first among African countries in terms of reusing treated water and the second worldwide, he noted during a ceremony in which a number of projects were inaugurated.

He further noted that his country fulfills 97 percent of its water needs from the river alone, stressing that Egypt “does not wait for problems to emerge, but predicts them in order to find the appropriate solutions.”

He reviewed the government’s programs to address the water shortage through the desalination of sea water and the reuse of agricultural water for other purposes. He highlighted projects to use rainwater in coastal areas, as well as the renovation of canals and water networks to reduce wasted water and applying modern irrigation techniques.

“The modernization of the irrigation program is being implemented in cooperation with several relevant ministries,” he added before the audience that included President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

The UN Security Council held on Monday a public videoconference to discuss the Nile dam dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The public video conference was called by the United States on behalf of Egypt.

Ethiopia wants to start filling the reservoir for the 475-foot (145-meter) GERD in early July, with or without approval from the two other countries.

Egypt sees the structure as an “existential” threat and Sudan on Thursday warned of “great risk” to millions of human lives if the dam plan moves forward.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia says the dam is essential to its development, while Sudan and Egypt fear it could restrict their citizens' water access.

The Nile -- which flows some 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) as one of the longest rivers in the world -- is an essential source of water and electricity for dozens of countries in East Africa.

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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the Middle East, stating that Moscow “has not and will not withdraw from the region.” He emphasized ongoing communication with Syria’s new leadership and expressed readiness to support the political process in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov attributed Syria’s deteriorating situation to the previous regime, blaming its unwillingness to implement reforms and share power with the opposition.

“The refusal of the former Syrian regime to make any changes or share power with the opposition was one of the primary reasons for its collapse,” he said.

Lavrov noted that over the past decade, since President Bashar al-Assad requested Russian intervention in the Syrian war and the launch of the Astana peace process, Damascus had delayed advancing the political path.

“Despite support from Arab nations, Syrian authorities showed reluctance to move forward politically and sought to maintain the status quo,” he explained.

He highlighted Russia’s repeated calls for the Syrian government to engage with the Constitutional Committee, established during the 2018 Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, and to actively work on drafting a new constitution.

Lavrov also pointed to economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions, which have stifled Syria’s economy, and US control over oil-rich eastern regions. Resources were exploited to fuel separatist ambitions in northeastern Syria, he remarked.

Moreover, the FM revealed details of Moscow’s earlier discussions with Kurdish groups, reiterating his country’s position that Kurdish rights should be guaranteed within the constitutional frameworks of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Türkiye.

He argued that the previous Syrian regime’s reluctance to engage in political dialogue resulted in stalled reforms proposed by the United Nations, Moscow and Cairo platforms, and Istanbul-based opposition groups. This inaction, he said, created a vacuum that ultimately led to the collapse.

Furthermore, he dismissed claims that his country’s withdrawal from Syria would signal its departure from the Middle East.

“Russia has not and will not leave the region,” he declared. Without directly addressing the status of Russian military bases in Syria, Lavrov emphasized: “Our embassy never left Damascus, and we maintain ongoing communication with the authorities.”

He also stressed Russia’s willingness to facilitate inclusive dialogue involving all national, political and sectarian factions, as well as relevant international stakeholders. Lavrov underscored that recent discussions with Türkiye, Gulf nations, and other parties demonstrated widespread agreement that Russia and Iran must be involved in the Syrian peace process if sustainable results are to be achieved.

For his part, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, reaffirmed Russia’s focus on developments in Syria, describing relations with Damascus as a “priority of Russian foreign policy.”

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Bogdanov might soon lead a Russian delegation to Damascus. However, a Russian diplomatic source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that no date for the visit has been confirmed. The visit, which was reportedly postponed, would mark the first by a senior Russian official to Damascus since the fall of Assad’s regime in December.

Meanwhile, media reports indicated that Moscow is facing logistical challenges in withdrawing military equipment from Syria, due to restrictions imposed by Syrian authorities on the movement of Russian ships in territorial waters.

According to the English-language edition of RT, the Russian ship Sparta 2, designated to transport military equipment and weapons, was denied entry to the Port of Tartus, where Russia maintains its only overseas naval base.