Arab Countries Call on Security Council to Meet to Discuss Renaissance Dam crisis | News from Egypt

League of Arab States Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Doha on Tuesday that Arab countries called on the UN Security Council to meet to discuss the dispute over Ethiopia’s intention to fill the Renaissance Dam.

Ethiopia is pinning its hopes for economic development and power generation on the dam. Egypt depends on the Nile for 90% of its fresh water and sees the dam as an existential threat. Sudan is concerned about the functioning of its dams on the Nile and its water stations.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said ministers who met in Qatar agreed to progressive measures to support Egypt and Sudan in the conflict.

Arab countries called on Ethiopia to negotiate “in good faith and refrain from taking unilateral actions that would harm the water interests of Egypt and Sudan.”

The Arab League has expressed deep concern over Ethiopia’s announcement of its intention to start the second phase of filling the dam reservoir during the rainy season this year without an agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. .

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Thani chairs the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Doha (communication sites)

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the country rejects the Arab League’s decision in its entirety.

Ethiopia has previously rejected calls by Egypt and Sudan to involve mediators from outside the African Union.

Sudan and Egypt have already agreed this month to work together to push Ethiopia to negotiate an agreement to fill and operate the dam, after the current stalemate in talks sponsored by the African Union, and the two countries. called on the international community to intervene.

Aboul Gheit described water security in Egypt and Sudan as an integral part of Arab national security.

Sudan said on Monday it was open to signing a temporary partial deal on the multibillion-dollar dam, with specific conditions set.

Tuesday’s meeting is the first such Arab meeting hosted by Qatar since Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a boycott of Doha in mid-2017 amid accusations that Qatar supports terrorism. Qatar denies the charges.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January to reestablish diplomatic, trade and transport ties with Qatar.

More politics