President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has reiterated Egypt’s unshakable stance towards the necessity of reaching a legal and binding agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Egypt just needs to preserve its share in the Nile water, Sisi said at a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart János Áder in Budapest.

Water shouldn’t be a cause of conflict, rather, it should be a reason to bring benefits for all and achieve cooperation, development and construction, Sisi said, pointing out that Egypt is currently implementing water treatment and seawater desalination programs at a cost of nearly $80 billion.

Meanwhile, Sisi expressed his admiration of the technological and scientific progress achieved by Hungary in the field of water use and development of drought-tolerant crops.

He also expressed Egypt’s keenness to cooperate with Hungary in the field of construction.

President Sisi appreciated remarks issued by Ethiopian officials, in which they affirmed that Egypt’s share in the Nile water will not be touched. However, the president emphasized that it has been compulsory to reach a legal and binding deal on GERD filling and operation.

The Nile River is the main source of fresh water for Egypt, Sisi said, highlighting that Egypt suffers from water scarcity and is on the verge of entering the water poverty line (less than 500 m3 per year per capita).

Source: State Information Service Egypt