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UNSC urges Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia to resume GERD talks

NEW YORK, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- The UN Security Council has encouraged Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to resume AU-led negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on filling and operating the dam.
In a presidential statement, the UNSC underlined the need to double efforts to reach an agreement "within a reasonable timeframe that ensures the interests of all parties equitably". "The Council called upon the three countries to take forward the African Union-led process in a construction and cooperative manner," reads the statement.
It also invited the African Union to consider updating the Council, if necessary, on its efforts.
The Council, however, underscored that this statement does not set out principles or precedent in any transboundary water disputes.
It argued that that it is not a "competent" body in the technical and administrative disputes over the rivers and the sources of water.
It advised the three countries to return to their 2015 Declaration of Principles on the GERD project.
Under the deal, the three countries are committed to cooperation, a fair usage of water and a peaceful settlement of the conflicts.
Despite the progress made in this crisis, the three parties have not reached a consensus yet regarding some key aspects, including managing the long-term drought crisis and a mechanism of settling conflicts.
Meanwhile, Egypt's Foreign Ministry welcomed the statement, saying it is a "key push "for efforts to make a success of the negotiating African path.
The ministry said the UN statement demands Ethiopia to engage seriously and with a sincere political will in the talks to reach a legally binding deal on the filling and operating of the dam, in accordance with the Council's statement. (end) asf.rj.hm