Egyptian Foreign Minister Reiterates His Country's Rejection of Unilateral Measures in the Eastern Nile Basin

Cairo, July 19 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed on Sunday his country’s rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, stressing that water security constitutes an existential issue for Egypt.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that this position was expressed during a meeting between Minister Abdelatty and Masud Boswell, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for Arab and African Affairs, as part of ongoing consultations and coordination between the two sides on several regional files of mutual interest.

The release clarified that Abdelatty emphasized the importance of adhering to the rules of international law governing the use of transboundary water resources, in a manner that serves the interests of all Nile Basin countries.

He further outlined Egypt’s efforts to support Sudan’s security and stability, preserve its unity, sovereignty, and national institutions. He stressed the importance of achieving a sustainable ceasefire, intensifying humanitarian response, and supporting a comprehensive political process led and owned entirely by Sudanese parties, thereby safeguarding Sudan’s unity and meeting its people’s aspirations for security, stability, and development.

According to the statement, the meeting also addressed developments in Libya, where the Egyptian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s firm stance supporting Libya’s unity and stability, the necessity of preserving the unity of its national institutions, and the need to reach a comprehensive political settlement through a Libyan-led process that leads to the simultaneous holding of presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

The two sides also exchanged views on international efforts to advance the political process in Libya. Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s support for all United Nations, regional, and international initiatives, including U.S. efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable political settlement that preserves the unity of the Libyan state and fulfills the aspirations of its people.

The statement noted that the meeting also touched upon developments in the Horn of Africa region. Abdelatty stressed the importance of maintaining the region’s security and stability, viewing it as a direct extension of Egypt’s national security. He called for supporting national institutions in the region’s countries, respecting their sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and rejecting any measures or policies that could undermine regional stability.

He pointed out that both sides reaffirmed the depth of the Egyptian-U.S. strategic partnership and their shared commitment to continuing to enhance bilateral cooperation across various fields, alongside ongoing coordination and consultation on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Boswell praised Egypt’s role in supporting security and stability in the region, emphasizing the importance of continuing coordination and consultation with Egypt on various regional issues in a manner that serves common interests and contributes to enhancing security and stability in the region. (End) A.S.M./A.B.G.