"Before that our technical advisers will sit down and come up with a
technical agreement to be signed," he said.
Other Nile Basin countries, some of which suffer periodic droughts,
drafted the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) in June at a
Democratic Republic of Congo summit that omitted mention of Egypt
and Sudan's historic claims.
"It is a big victory," a Sudanese official, who requested anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said. "They were
going to sign the agreement beginning August 1 regardless of Egypt and
Sudan."
At the heart of the dispute is a 1929 agreement between Egypt and
Great Britain, acting on behalf of its African colonies along the 5,584
kilometre (3,470 mile) river, which gave Egypt veto power over
upstream projects.
An between Egypt and Sudan in 1959 allowed Egypt 55.5 billion cubic
metres of water each year -- 87 percent of the Nile's flow -- and Sudan
18.5 billion cubic metres.
Some of the Nile Basin countries, which include Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Uganda, Kenya and the DRC, say past treaties are unfair and they want
an equitable water-sharing agreement that would allow for more
irrigation and power projects.
Egypt, a mostly arid country that relies on the Nile for the majority of
its water, argues that up-stream countries could make better use of
rainfall and have other sources of water.
With almost 80 million people, Egypt's water demands are projected to
exceed its supply by 2017, according to a government reported
published earlier this month.
There is "no way" Egypt would allow a reduction of its quota, Mona
Omar, Egyptian deputy foreign minister for African affairs, told
reporters.
Egypt sought to downplay the differences after the summit, and said it
is proposing economic incentives to the countries.
"It's normal that there are disagreements," cabinet spokesman Magdi
Riyad said at a press conference. "(But) there was a unanimous
agreement that the resources of the Nile Basin were more than enough
if managed properly."
He said Egypt proposes widening the scope of the Nile Basin Initiative,
the World Bank funded umbrella group of Nile Basin countries, to
include other natural resources.
Other Related Reports
Egypt shuns pressure in Nile talks
Al Jazeera
Hope for pact dims as Egypt takes headship of Nile Basin
Business Daily Africa
Egypt, Sudan thwart Nile basin sharing pact
Sudan Tribune
Egypt defiant over River Nile waters
New Vision
Egypt: Historic Nile River Rights Not Negotiable
Javno
technical agreement to be signed," he said.
Other Nile Basin countries, some of which suffer periodic droughts,
drafted the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) in June at a
Democratic Republic of Congo summit that omitted mention of Egypt
and Sudan's historic claims.
"It is a big victory," a Sudanese official, who requested anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said. "They were
going to sign the agreement beginning August 1 regardless of Egypt and
Sudan."
At the heart of the dispute is a 1929 agreement between Egypt and
Great Britain, acting on behalf of its African colonies along the 5,584
kilometre (3,470 mile) river, which gave Egypt veto power over
upstream projects.
An between Egypt and Sudan in 1959 allowed Egypt 55.5 billion cubic
metres of water each year -- 87 percent of the Nile's flow -- and Sudan
18.5 billion cubic metres.
Some of the Nile Basin countries, which include Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Uganda, Kenya and the DRC, say past treaties are unfair and they want
an equitable water-sharing agreement that would allow for more
irrigation and power projects.
Egypt, a mostly arid country that relies on the Nile for the majority of
its water, argues that up-stream countries could make better use of
rainfall and have other sources of water.
With almost 80 million people, Egypt's water demands are projected to
exceed its supply by 2017, according to a government reported
published earlier this month.
There is "no way" Egypt would allow a reduction of its quota, Mona
Omar, Egyptian deputy foreign minister for African affairs, told
reporters.
Egypt sought to downplay the differences after the summit, and said it
is proposing economic incentives to the countries.
"It's normal that there are disagreements," cabinet spokesman Magdi
Riyad said at a press conference. "(But) there was a unanimous
agreement that the resources of the Nile Basin were more than enough
if managed properly."
He said Egypt proposes widening the scope of the Nile Basin Initiative,
the World Bank funded umbrella group of Nile Basin countries, to
include other natural resources.
Other Related Reports
Egypt shuns pressure in Nile talks
Al Jazeera
Hope for pact dims as Egypt takes headship of Nile Basin
Business Daily Africa
Egypt, Sudan thwart Nile basin sharing pact
Sudan Tribune
Egypt defiant over River Nile waters
New Vision
Egypt: Historic Nile River Rights Not Negotiable
Javno
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29 July, 2009 | By Samer al-Atrush AFP
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — Water ministers
from Nile Basin countries on Tuesday
delayed signing a water-sharing pact
already rejected by Egypt and Sudan, who
oppose any reduction in their traditional
quotas.
Ministers from nine Nile Basin countries
and Eritrea, which had observer status at
the four-day meeting held in the Egyptian
Mediterranean city of Alexandria, put off
finalising the treaty for six months.
"Six months was allocated to solve the
problem," Ethiopian Minister of Water
Resources Asfaw Dingamo told reporters
at the end of the meeting.
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — Water ministers
from Nile Basin countries on Tuesday
delayed signing a water-sharing pact
already rejected by Egypt and Sudan, who
oppose any reduction in their traditional
quotas.
Ministers from nine Nile Basin countries
and Eritrea, which had observer status at
the four-day meeting held in the Egyptian
Mediterranean city of Alexandria, put off
finalising the treaty for six months.
"Six months was allocated to solve the
problem," Ethiopian Minister of Water
Resources Asfaw Dingamo told reporters
at the end of the meeting.
Nile countries delay water sharing pact for six months