Highlights:

• A draft strategy paper mulls over international arbitration; role of Al-Azhar and the Egyptian Church; and a media plan to lobby the international community. There is a ‘Supreme Committee for the Nile water’, consisting the Prime Minister and 8 ministers.
• ‘the levees that held in Ethiopia on the Blue Nile [the new dam?] aims to cultivate one million hectares …. its reservation [is] three times the disposal of the Blue Nile’, Dr. Mohamed Nasr El Din Allam, former Minister of Irrigation.
• ‘Ethiopia has finally announced the construction of dams, especially the Millennium bridge was in their plans for a long time, but took advantage of Egypt’s preoccupation with what is happening on the inside to take such steps’, Dr. Fleifel, Professor of African Studies at the Institute of African Research and Studies at Cairo University.
• ‘the need to call upon the opposition to the position of the basin countries such as Congo and Eritrea to discuss the issue of Arab investments in the countries of the basin, where the UAE has set up agricultural projects by about one million acres of Ethiopia.’, Helmi Shaarawi, a political analyst who specializes in African affairs.
• ‘The most prominent Cards pressure on Ethiopia’s occupation of the Ogaden region of Somalia and its annexation of the territory of Oromiya’, Helmi Shaarawi.
• The Convention on the Entebbe will enter into force in May next, and then the time is tight ahead of us, including requiring the need to move the military to solve this problem’, Hani Raslan, Chairman of the Sudan Studies Program and the countries of the Nile Basin Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
• ‘Israel [Ministry of Finance and the Israeli kibbutz] is found in the Nile Basin through raising the slogan of water pricing in exchange for oil under the plans in place, and has plans of 2028 and 2035’, Dr. Tarek Fahmy, chairman of the Strategic Unit at the National Center for the Study of the Middle East.

Egypt is conducting a ‘national dialogue’ on the ‘Nile waters File’, according to several Egyptian media outlets. The discussion is chaired by  Dr. Hussein Atfy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and attended by former Minister of Water and Irrigation Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, as well as ‘a group of thinkers and leaders of the ministry, journalists and legal or political specialists in various fields of water, and representatives from the January 25 Revolution Youth’.

The discussion centered on ‘a preliminary working paper’ drafted by the  Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation that is to be submitted to the cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in the coming days. The discussion started on April 8 and is to resume on Sunday, April 10.

The contents of the paper is posted, in Arabic, on the Egyptian website nile.eg and the statements made by the Minister Dr. Hussein Atfy  and Dr. Nasr El-Din Allam were presented on another Egyptian website ahram, in Arabic.

There was also a workshop held at the National Center for Middle East Studies in Cairo on Thursday, April 7. The discussion is informative of Egypt’s fears, arguments and malice.

After several attempts to prepare an excerpt, I gave up and decided to post the full version. Fearing that I may mess them up, given the vagueness of some of the statements and the limitations of Google translation.

A link both to the Arabic version and their Google translation is provided at the top of each. Note that the emphasis(bold letters) in the texts are mine.

[This post will be updated with links and footnotes that clarify the vague terms/phrases in the text. Ethiopians versed with Arabic are invited to help, either by writing in the comment space or mailing to me.]

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A working paper on Nile waters File – (Link). A Google translation – HERE]

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation "in the light of the social dialogue of the Nile water which was organized by the Ministry" in the preparation of background paper to deal with the file of the Nile Basin, to be submitted to the Council of Ministers and the Supreme Council of the armed forces in the coming days.

Dr. Hussein Atfy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, the discussions in the dialogue over the two-session comes in the framework of what the Ministry’s efforts to find a new vision and strategy to address the file waters of the Nile and the best way to deal with the countries of the basin, and in light of developments in the basin both the grassroots level, political or legal.

The Atfy – in a statement on Friday – that the axes of the working paper is based on the continued coordination between the agencies concerned file of the Nile in Egypt, which ensures that crystallized the position of Egypt based on the strong foundations of the political, legal, technical and strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Nile Basin countries, particularly Sudan’s half north and south.

Said Dr Hussein Atfy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation The axes paper file Nile emphasizes the study of establishing a fund to support investments and the establishment of a common market between the Nile Basin countries and work on economic integration and give a greater role for cooperation in the fields of small industries to provide employment opportunities for the children of the peoples of the Nile.

The paper also includes initiatives to improve relations with the Nile Basin countries and access to a compromise formula in the interests of all countries of the basin with respect to development without prejudice to the rights of States in the water and development.

The paper stressed the move with the international community through diplomatic move with the institutions of the international community and development partners to bring new ideas to bring the views and demanded that the paper which is presented to the cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces need to work in-depth study to prepare the legal basis is relied upon in the event of having to resort to international arbitration with the recommendation that this will be another step cards that Egypt resorted to illustrate the effect of the border with the big on the environment, society and explain to the international community.

The paper stressed the need to invest the spirit of the Egyptian revolution and emphasized that Egypt is the Nile and there is no Egypt without the Nile in the absence of the Nile without Egypt and give a greater role for the capacity of youth Egyptian universities and institutes to participate in dealing with the file of the Nile.

The paper emphasized File Nile need to focus on that move Egypt balanced politically and that cooperation is in the form of a partnership strong economic system triangular ribs and demanded the paper by giving a greater role for religious institutions, whether Al-Azhar and the Egyptian Church in dealing with water issues in general and the file of the Nile in particular to the institutions of the presence of actor on the Square basin, either through educational missions, religious or cultural understanding and to ensure that Egypt’s position and needs for water.

The paper pointed to reconsider in the media discourse and the cultural with the countries of the basin and to ensure that the deal is not exaggerating or underplaying with the file and prepare media plan smart addressed to the international community emphasizes the requirements of Egypt’s water under the population growth terrible suffering, including Egypt and build confidence with the Nile Basin countries Without prejudice to the constants.

Attended the dialogue sessions during the past three days by a group of thinkers and leaders of the ministry, journalists and specialists in various fields of water, whether legal or political as well as participated in the dialogue, representatives from the Youth Coalition revolution Jan. 25.

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National dialogue on Nile waters File – first day, Friday April 8 – (Link). A Google translation – [Here]

Began yesterday at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation initial national dialogue sessions expanded on a common vision of experts, technicians and executives about the file Nile, headed by Dr. Hussein Atfy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and the presence of Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister Moar Water and Irrigation, former, and a number of thought leaders and opinion and legal experts and civil society representatives, experts and Egyptian experiences.

The Atfy that there is a joint coordination and always with a number of ministries and stakeholders to manage the file of the Nile, noting in this connection that the movement’s future Egyptian depends primarily on the expansion of areas of cooperation with the Nile Basin countries, and the establishment of joint ventures in all fields especially with respect to water resources management and to secure the rights and the share of the basin countries of the Nile water.
He said that Egypt is the dialogue and negotiation are the only way to reach a balanced formula of the Framework Convention between the Nile Basin countries in the interests of all parties.

For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources that the signing of former Burundi and five countries of the source to the Framework Convention for the Nile water does not eliminate the previously signed agreements between Egypt and these countries.

He said that as long as that Egypt has not signed this Convention, this Convention is not binding on Egypt, pointing out that the fundamental solution in the water the Nile Basin countries is to quickly return to the negotiating table, and to consider casting aside disagreement between the upstream and downstream countries, water security is next to the rapprochement between Egypt and the Nile Basin countries to implement joint projects with the countries of the basin.

And around the dams to be held in Ethiopia, Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation former Most of these dams, which are estimated to number four goal is to generate electricity and studies suggest it does not affect Egypt’s share of water.

He pointed out that the water issue discussed by the Supreme Committee for the Nile water which is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes 8 ministers, and that things are technical and legal discussion by the technical committees, legal and announce its recommendations in this regard. He called Abu Zeid to be civil society’s role in the discussion the water issue with the Nile Basin countries.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Nasr El Din Allam, former Minister of Irrigation to the law experts from Switzerland and England, confirmed that the Convention on the upstream countries impair the rights of Egypt’s water, and warned Egypt to sign it.

Allam noted that the Framework Convention in its current state and signed by 6 countries from the source does not guarantee any right to Egypt from historical rights, and the signing of Egypt, which must lead to the cancellation of all previous agreements.

Said Dr. Nasr El-Din Allam We refused to sign the Convention because it was contrary to the Framework Convention of the United Nations for the year 1997, does not guarantee the historic rights of Egypt in the waters of the Nile.

He pointed out that the levees that held in Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, which aims to cultivate one million hectares more harm Egypt’s share because its reservation three times the disposal of the Blue Nile.

He called for the need to study the negative effects of these dams and to notify the donor countries and the Ethiopian government so open dialogue with the negative impacts of these dams on Egypt.

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A workshop at the National Center for Middle East Studies in Cairo – Thursday, April 7 (Link).  [A Google translation – Here ]

Experts stressed the need for continued negotiation and dialogue with the countries of the Nile Basin and the development of an integrated strategy to address the water crisis on top of peacekeeping on the African continent and to participate in electricity projects and take advantage of water loss in the basin countries every benefit to everyone.

Participants stressed that the former regime neglected the gross negligence of this file and the decline in the representation of Egyptian and African blocs at the expense of other issues such as inheritance and election fraud.

This came during a workshop held at the National Center for Middle East Studies in Cairo yesterday.

For his part, said Dr. Mohamed Shafiq Zaki, Chairman of the National Center for Middle Eastern Studies Cooperation is the principle ideal addition to an ongoing dialogue with the countries of the basin to become a key issue is how everyone can benefit from the waste water from the Nile and the case is not just the division of water.

He pointed to the importance of a deeper understanding of conditions in the basin countries so as to avoid tension in the relations with it, in addition to the need for a defined strategy to achieve the best interest of the homeland.

For his part, said Dr. Fleifel Mr. Professor of African Studies at the Institute of African Research and Studies at Cairo University, said that interest in this case is interesting presence Egyptian Nile is not the same Without the presence of the Egyptian state or of the Egyptian people, "said Dr.. Fleifel that if the follow-up required to file the water crisis to reach the vision and make recommendations is very important especially as we are in the process a new state after the revolution of January 25 at the same time warning that the region is witnessing a change if they suffer at the same time of the liquidity situation calls for caution, He pointed out that Ethiopia has finally announced the construction of dams, especially the Millennium bridge was in their plans for a long time, but took advantage of Egypt’s preoccupation with what is happening on the inside to take such steps.

And, he said. Fleifel to the previous period in Egyptian politics have seen slackening of diplomatic features appear to invest Arab countries in the Nile basin without coordination with Egypt, in addition to the entry of China and Italy in the process of construction of dams in the basin countries, noting that it calls for more dialogue with the countries of the Nile Hos, in addition to negotiating with the new arrivals in the pelvis and not the riparian States has only.

He explained that the issue of shortage of Egypt’s share of the water can be treated through the implementation of projects, countries of the basin to store water outside our borders, adding to the deficit that we face in the water of 30 billion cubic meters by 2017.
D stressed. Fleifel have to lay hands on the mistakes made previously Aqtervnaha is very important where the state failed to provide its resources fully to negotiate this matter, as Egypt has not benefited from the UN Convention on the existing projects in the basin countries to non-therapeutic targets.

He said that while there was a crowd parliamentary and popular within the basin countries to launch the Convention on Entebbe was the former regime in Egypt is busy the question of inheritance and election fraud.

He pointed out that we should be mindful of our goals of negotiation with the countries of the basin and the need to remember the impact of these objectives on the overall development of the bloc, African or a common market or regional grouping, pointing out that Egypt, for example, an observer in the IGAD and joined the COMESA late and a spectator.

He pointed out that serious mistakes that we signed and also signed agreements with the Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia, which acknowledged the historical and our rights we did not go for ratification in parliament, increasing the acceleration rate of the Nile Basin countries agreement Entebbe, and are not need to ask permission in Egypt.

D stressed. Fleifel on the necessity of dealing with the Nile Basin countries as a bloc, adding that there are three basins of Ethiopia and the first in which efforts should be focused on maintaining the share of water as a limited opportunity to increase and, secondly, South Sudan, a new state after separation from the north and there are sources and should have a work program with Egypt as a province of Egypt, pointing out that Uganda was also the great potential for increasing Egypt’s share of water, and thirdly the plateau tropical countries of Uganda and south are located in a belt Mutair almost 1000 cubic meters of water, and they have a big problem in the installation of soil and we can contribute in the treatment of soil erosion and cultivation of their wetlands.

He pointed out that there is a duty on the ministry of water resources for agricultural drainage and adjust the irrigation system, pointing out that the State Bouklt formerly the Ministry and the funding in this regard.

He explained that the pillars of our work on Sudan and the Nile Basin is not going to search for water only, but the establishment of a common market for cooperation and the launch of policy interdependence, and the export of Egyptian workers to work in the basin countries, stressing the importance of human existence in the Egyptian Nile Basin countries, in addition to investment in agricultural projects in the basin countries in charge of the water.

For his part, said Dr. Abdelfattah wrought Ministry of Works and Water Resources: The revolution of January 25 quoted Egypt substantive shift in the eyes of Africans and the world, pointing out that the water happened to him politicization, and some speak it, without knowing that something about him, which is very dangerous.

He pointed out that the generation of energy on the basis of cooperation with the countries of the basin is very important, stressing that Egypt’s negotiating position is very strong.
He said: You must turn the problem of the Nile Basin to the opportunity, stressing the need to maintain peace in the countries of the basin, and the necessity of the Egyptian presence there to achieve these goals.

For his part, said Helmi Shaarawi, a political analyst who specializes in African affairs: it is not appropriate to sum up the Egyptian presence in Africa in the issue of water, and that the issue much deeper than that, pointing to the absence of Egypt for the African bloc.

He pointed to the need to call upon the opposition to the position of the basin countries such as Congo and Eritrea to discuss the issue of Arab investments in the countries of the basin, where the UAE has set up agricultural projects by about one million acres of Ethiopia.

He said: The most prominent Cards pressure on Ethiopia’s occupation of the Ogaden region of Somalia and its annexation of the territory of Oromiya and intervention of troops there are, Burundi, and wondered: Why intervention Amr Moussa in Libya did not intervene in Somalia, where civilians are being killed at the hands of Burundi and Ethiopia?!

For his part, said Dr. Shawki Abdel Aal, a professor of international law at Cairo University: It is not proper to talk to the Organization of African Unity for the sanctity of borders in accordance with the colonial agreements, conventions and refuses to recognize water as a colonial.

He explained that the Vienna Convention for the succession of States of the conventions in our interest, and the Framework Convention for the use of international watercourses for navigation is in our favor.
He added that the problem lies in politics, where we neglect the African continent, and the institution’s previous presidential neglected the terrible neglect the interests of Egypt and its relationship with the continent.

Description of the d. Shawki Framework Agreement for the basin countries as non-binding agreement for the non-committed, and called for the development of a strategy to move in the period after the return of Egypt was absent.

Said Hani Raslan, Chairman of the Sudan Studies Program and the countries of the Nile Basin Center for Political and Strategic Studies Al-Ahram: there is no way out of Egypt only through close cooperation with the African continent, especially the Nile Basin countries, stressing the need for compromise solutions put forward reservation Egyptian interests , in addition to the effort to enhance the benefits and minimize risks, and alternative conflict situation is not in our interest to get it.

He said: We are at a rare moment, after the revolution, we can invest to enter into a new era to review all the negatives of past and develop a new policy to all files, including the Nile water crisis, in addition to the need for coordination between different ministries to resolve this crisis. The to the Convention on the Entebbe will enter into force in May next, and then the time is tight ahead of us, including requiring the need to move the military to solve this problem.

For his part, said Dr. Tarek Fahmy, chairman of the Strategic Unit at the National Center for the Study of the Middle East: Israel is found in the Nile Basin through raising the slogan of water pricing in exchange for oil under the plans in place, and has plans of 2028 and 2035 , and the recent focus on the exploitation of water resources of the Nile Basin countries through the work of structural construction of projects there, not only by businessmen, and Israeli institutions are working to complete this objective, such as the Ministry of Finance and the Israeli kibbutz under the name of water pricing.