STORY: Egyptian president urges political commitment, partnership in water resources management
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 13, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:01
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of 7th Cairo Water Week inauguration (source: the cabinet)

STORYLINE:

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Sunday that safeguarding water resources, especially the Nile River, requires unwavering political commitment, diligent political efforts, and international collaboration to ensure the achievement of mutual aspirations.

Sisi made the remarks in a pre-recorded video speech played at an event for the 7th annual Cairo Water Week, which is dedicated to water resources management.

The president pointed out that the Nile River is the source of life for the Egyptian people and accounts for over 98 percent of their water supply.

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia share the Nile River and have been in talks for years about the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the river.

Ethiopia began building GERD in 2011 and expects it to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, the downstream countries of Egypt and Sudan are concerned that the dam might affect their share of water resources.

In early September, Egypt sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council to reject Ethiopia's "unilateral policies" concerning the fifth phase of the filling of GERD.

"Today, we are appealing to the entire world from Egypt to secure the bounty of the great Nile River, to recognize water as a fundamental human right, and to elevate its significance on the global agenda," Sisi said in his opening remarks.

This year's Cairo Water Week coincides with Africa Water Week and the Africa Hydrological Conference.

The Egyptian president called on the international community to urgently bolster its support for African states' endeavors in water resources management.

He also stressed the urgent need to discuss large-scale projects that leverage shared transnational rivers and safeguard the safety and sustainability of international water resources.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)