Egypt concerned over stalemate in Ethiopia dam talks

CAIRO, Nov 15 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said the dispute with Sudan and Ethiopia on the preliminary report on the technical study of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is "a worrying matter." The tripartite committee has concluded a meeting in Cairo without agreement on the conclusions of the report.
"Water security is a matter of national security for Egypt," Shoukri told at a joint press conference with Algerian and Tunisian foreign ministers on Wednesday.
"The lengthy talks on the controversial dam on the Blue Nile River failed to reach an agreement on the formation of an impartial company to supervise the construction of the dam," he regretted.
Egypt is committed to the tripartite a declaration of principles, signed by the leaders Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, he said, noting contacts will continue with the two countries and other partners in the Nile River basin to iron out the remaining problems. (end) rg.sam.gb