Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed the need to reach a binding legal agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Speaking during a press conference with Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who arrived in Cairo for an official three-day visit, Sisi said GERD was a "matter of existence" that affects the lives of Egyptians.
Presidency spokesman Ambassador Bassam Rady announced that the bilateral meetings discussed issues of mutual concern and touched on the latest developments of the dam issue.
The two delegations agreed to intensify coordination in the coming period.
Sisi stressed the importance of the water issue for Egyptians as it is a matter of national security, noting that an agreement should be reached aside from any "unilateral approach that seeks to impose the fait accompli and ignore the basic rights of peoples.”
The officials also discussed enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of water resources and irrigation and reviewed mutual efforts to maximize the sustainable use of the water resources of the Nile River.
“We have confirmed our vision to make the Nile River a source of cooperation and development as a lifeline for all the peoples of the Nile Basin countries.”
Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to support Burundi’s development projects, especially in the sectors of infrastructure, electricity, health, mining, and agriculture through investments of specialized Egyptian companies that have extensive experience in these fields.
Ndayishimiye asserted Burundi’s appreciation for its long and distinguished historical relations with Egypt. He had also affirmed his country’s keenness to develop these relations in various fields, especially trade exchange and economic cooperation.
The president reiterated Burundi’s keenness to maximize the technical support Egypt has provided to his country, as well as obtaining the Egyptian companies’ support to carry the infrastructure projects in the country.
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have been holding negotiations to resolve the dispute over the GERD issue for about ten years, in the hope of concluding a legal agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the dam.
In 2011, Addis Ababa began constructing the dam to generate power. It is now preparing to begin the second phase of filling the reservoir in the coming months, despite warnings from Sudan and Egypt.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that the second filling of the GERD will go ahead as scheduled during the country’s rainy season in July.
