At COP27, Egypt Demands Agreement that Preserves its Water Security

Sisi during his meeting with members of the US delegation, headed by Nancy Pelosi (Egyptian presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with members of the US delegation, headed by Nancy Pelosi (Egyptian presidency)
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At COP27, Egypt Demands Agreement that Preserves its Water Security

Sisi during his meeting with members of the US delegation, headed by Nancy Pelosi (Egyptian presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with members of the US delegation, headed by Nancy Pelosi (Egyptian presidency)

Taking advantage of the high international presence during the United Nations Climate Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh (COP27), Egypt is seeking more international support in its dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, calling for a “binding legal agreement that preserves its water security.”

Ethiopia is in conflict with Egypt and Sudan over the dam it has been building since 2011. Cairo says the project threatens its “rights” in the waters of the Nile River, calling for a binding legal agreement that regulates the rules of filling and operating the dam.

During a meeting with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and her accompanying delegation, on the sidelines of COP 27, on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi explained the dispute with Ethiopia.

He stressed - according to the official spokesman - “the firm position on the necessity of reaching a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the dam, in order to achieve the interests of all parties and maintain Egypt’s water security.”

For his part, Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Minister and President of COP27, met on Friday with members of the US delegation headed by Pelosi.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the meeting saw a lengthy discussion on water issues and the Renaissance Dam, as well as Egypt’s efforts to preserve its water resources.

Negotiations between the three countries, sponsored by the African Union, have been frozen since April 2021, after their failure to achieve a breakthrough. Consequently, Egypt submitted a protest letter to the UN Security Council, demanding pressure on Ethiopia through international partners.

On Friday, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Swailem met with Hon Reece Whitby, Minister of Environment and Climate Action for Western Australia.

Swailem expressed Egypt’s desire to promote international cooperation in water and climate, pointing to Australia’s successful experiences in the field of desalination and treatment.

During the COP27 sessions in Sharm el-Sheikh, Ethiopia sought to promote the Renaissance Dam as a project to confront climate change.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated the Egyptian government and people for their successful hosting of the climate conference, expressing his gratitude to President Sisi for inviting him to participate in the summit, and for “the generous hospitality” he received.

In his official speech, Abiy Ahmed said that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was expected to be “a vital source of energy for the country and the region.”
He noted that despite Ethiopia’s great renewable energy potential and great infrastructure for generation and transportation, access to electricity in the country was still below 50 percent.

Abi Ahmed stressed that his country was “working hard to diversify and expand its energy mix to include other renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy, wind and solar energy, with the aim of achieving comprehensive access by 2030 through on-grid and off-grid technologies.”



Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
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Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)

Baghdad has been preoccupied this week with serious possibilities that Israel may expand its war on Gaza and Lebanon by striking several targets in Iraq in retaliation to attacks by Iran-backed armed factions.

Concern has been high that Israel may attack government buildings, oil fields and strategic locations, not just the positions of the armed factions that have previously launched attacks against Israel, said sources close to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework.

Media sources have spoken of government speculation that Iraq could come under “300 Israeli attacks”.

The fears in Iraq have been compounded by an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council against seven armed factions and holding Baghdad responsible for the attacks they have carried out against it.

This prompted the government, through the foreign ministry, to send an official letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation in response to the Israeli threats.

The ministry said on Saturday that Iraq is “the cornerstone of stability in the region and world and it is one of the countries that are most committed to the UN Charter.”

“The Zionist entity’s letter to the Security Council is part of a systematic policy aimed at creating claims and excuses in an attempt to expand the conflict in the region.”

It said Iraq has turned to the Security Council out of Iraq’s keenness on the international body carrying out its duty in maintaining international peace and security and the need to rein in the “Zionist aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Moreover, it stressed that Iraq has been keen on exercising restraint when it comes to the use of its airspace to attack a neighboring country.

Israel has used Iraqi airspace to launch attacks against Iran in October.

Iraq underscored the importance of the international community stepping in to “stop this hostile behavior that is a flagrant violation of international law.”

It called for international efforts to stop the Israeli escalation in the region and ensure that international laws and treaties are respected to consolidate security and stability.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coordination Framework said the main Shiite parties are taking the Israeli threats “very seriously”, urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government to take “all the necessary measures to avert a potential Israeli strike.”

All leaders of armed factions, as well as Shiite leaders, have taken up alternative locations and are moving under great secrecy, confirming that they have changed the majority of their military positions, said the source.

It also dismissed claims that Israeli jets have overflown Iraq, saying nothing has been confirmed, but not ruling out the possibility, especially since US forces have control over Iraqi skies and Iraq is helpless against stopping these violations.

Iraq had submitted a formal complaint to the UN and Security Council over Israel’s use and violation of its airspace to attack Iran.

Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said the pro-Iran armed factions have been gathering their forces in the Sinjar province, which is strategic for Iran’s arms deliveries and logistic support to Syria where attacks can be carried out against American forces and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Sinjar is one of the most important strategic bases for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the armed factions insist on continuing the war against Israel, rejecting government calls for calm and neutrality.

The government’s statements are aimed at delivering a message that it “is not directly responsible for the strategy of these factions,” which follow Iran’s policies.

Iraq has repeatedly said that it refuses for its territory to be used to attack another country, but some observers believe that it may allow Iran to do so should Israel strike.