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GERD: New Gulf Support for Egypt, Sudan

Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
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GERD: New Gulf Support for Egypt, Sudan

Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

The Gulf States expressed support to Egypt and Sudan in their dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam on the Nile River.

The GCC Ministerial Council rejected “any action or measure that affects their water rights,” stressing “support for all endeavors that would contribute to resolving the file in a manner that takes into account the interests of all parties."

“Water security for Egypt and Sudan is an integral part of Arab national security,” read the final statement issued by the meeting of the GCC foreign ministers on Thursday, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh.

It added: “The GCC states reject any action or measure that affects their rights in the Nile waters,” calling for the necessity to reach an agreement in accordance with the principles of international law and the presidential statement of the Security Council issued on September 15, 2021.

Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Mahran, Secretary-General of the International Committee for the Defense of Water Resources, member of the American Society of International Law, praised the Gulf support for Egypt’s stance and its legitimate rights in the file of the Renaissance Dam.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mahran emphasized the need to maintain international pressure on Ethiopia, in order to reach a legal agreement over the dates for filling and operating the dam, in accordance with the rules of international law.

Ethiopia announced last month the completion of the third filling of the dam reservoir. The dam is built on the main tributary of the Nile, and raises tensions with the two downstream countries.

Egypt and Sudan demand that Ethiopia stop filling the dam until an agreement is reached between the three parties on the operation mechanism. But since April 2021, the negotiations between the three countries, which are being held under the auspices of the African Union, have been frozen, after they failed to make a breakthrough. The situation forced Egypt to resort to the UN Security Council to demand pressure on Ethiopia through international partners, with the aim to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.