Saturday, May 31, 2014

FM holds talks with Ethiopian counterpart in Algeria | Egypt Independent

FM holds talks with Ethiopian counterpart in Algeria
   

Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy held talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Theodoros Adhanom on Wednesday evening on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned countries in Algeria.
The meeting dealt with bilateral relations and the Renaissance Dam crisis, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Aaty said in a press statement Thursday.
Fahmy stressed Egypt's welcoming position to negotiate at any time if there is goodwill and seriousness on Ethiopia's part, according to Abdel Aaty.
Fahmy hoped talks would make progress and help find solutions to disagreements without harming the interests of both countries.
Fahmy also held talks with Ugandan Foreign Minister on means to develop bilateral relations between Cairo and Kampala in politics, and the economic, investment and trade fields to serve both countries, said Abdel Aaty.
Edited translation of Al-Masry Al-Youm

Friday, May 30, 2014

Egypt's Ethiopian FM meet in Non aliened conference side line on the Nile dam

Two ministers meet in Algeria do discuss Ethiopia's proposed Nile dam project, a source of contention between the two countries since last May
Ahram Online, 
Nabil Fahmy

Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy met on Wednesday with his Ethiopian counterpart Tedros Adhanom to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and issues related to Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam, Al-Ahram's Arabic news website reported.
The two ministers met in Algeria while attending the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit that took place on 26-29 May.
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry's spokesperson Badr Abdel-Ati, Fahmy stressed to his counterpart that Egypt is still willing to negotiate over the issues of the Ethiopia's dam and try to reach a consensus.
The planned Grand Renaissance Dam is a $4.2 billion hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, one of the main tributaries of the Nile. The project has been a source of concern for the Egyptian government since May of last year, when images of the dam's construction stirred public anxiety about possible effects on Egypt's share of the Nile, the country's main source of potable water.
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan formed a tripartite technical committee to study the possible effects of the dam and try to generate consensus. Ethiopia maintains that Egypt's water share will not be negatively affected by the successful completion of the project.
In late April, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn invited Egypt and Sudan for another round of tripartite talks, while in March the Ethiopian foreign minister said his country was adamant about holding talks with Egypt.
Last year, Ethiopia and five other Nile Basin countries – Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi – endorsed an accord, the Co-operative Framework Agreement, which replaced a 1929 treaty granting Egypt veto power over any project on the Nile in upstream countries.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

State to review framework of pact on Nile basin

27th May 2014
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Bernard Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Relations
The government will soon convene a meeting to review the comprehensive framework agreement on the Nile basin which will ensure that it does not affect water users in Egypt and other countries, the Parliament was told here yesterday.



Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Bernard Membe said the meeting will be convened in Dar es Salaam in July this year. Countries expected to attend the meeting include Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Sudan and Tanzania as the host.



The minister was responding to a supplementary questions raised by Mji Mkongwe legislator, Ibrahim Sanya who had wanted to know when will the Nile basin agreement signed in 1929 be amended.



He said the agreement favors Egypt and Sudan when it comes to water uses than any other countries along the Nile River.



Membe said the 1929 Nile basin agreement has four components which include providing 55 percent of water rights to Egypt, 15 percent of water rights to Sudan, Veto power on the uses of water to Egypt.



“Apart from Egypt and Sudan, no other country was allowed to utilize the Nile River waters in construction of dams, irrigation or drinking,” he said.

He in a meeting held in Entebbe, Uganda in 2009/2010 it was agreed that nine countries would utilize the water in Nile River.



Membe said the Nile basin has also increased tourism activities between Tanzania and Egypt as Egypt Air had added two direct flights from Tanzania to other parts of the world to ensure Tanzania expands the tourism sector. He said for the past two years Tanzania has received over 13,000 tourists from Egypt.



Earlier in her basic question, Special Seats legislator, Amina Mwadau asked the government to explain whether the recent political changes in Egypt would affect Tanzania on the uses of Nile basin resources.



She wanted to know which business sectors would be affected with the political changes in Egypt.



Responding to the question, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mahadhi Maalim said Tanzania did not ratify the 2010 Comprehensive Framework agreement on the Nile basin.



He said Egypt with a population of over 70 million people highly depend on the Nile River since a big part of the country is a desert with minimal rainfall.

“We think it is much better to rethink whether it was fair for all nine countries to have similar uses of Nile water or not,” he said.



He also said Egypt was doing well in irrigation system which depended on the Nile River.



“A total of 78 million Egyptians depend on the Nile River hence without Nile there is no Egypt. If the water level goes down, then the Egyptians will not be able to do any irrigation farming,” he said.



Mahadhi said in order for the agreement to become functional, six countries will have to ratify it when the political situation in Egypt is calm. 

Saturday, May 24, 2014

El-Sisi and Sabahi speak on key issues: For Sisi " Nile water is a "matter of life and death" for Egypt - Ahram Online


Ahram Online compares the views of the two presidential candidates on key topics, including police reform, the economy, Ethiopian relations and religious discourse
Zeinab El-Gundy, Friday 23 May 2014
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Sabahi & Sisi

Presidential candidates Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Hamdeen Sabahi
Two candidates in the 2012 presidential race -- Islamist Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh and liberal Amr Moussa -- gave Egyptians their first televised election debate.

Despite calls for a repeat performance by Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Hamdeen Sabahi -- the only candidates running in next week's presidential elections -- there will be no direct confrontation between the two men.
Sabahi's camp had welcomed the idea of a debate, citing the Nasserist's history of activism going back to his time as a student in the 1970s as proof that he could meet the challenge.
El-Sisi's campaign, however, rejected the idea, approving instead debates between officials from both campaigns, and the former military leader's televised interviews with local and international journalists.
In the absence of a televised debate, Ahram Online has created a virtual debate between the two candidates, summarising the views of both on a number of key issues.
Reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood
Both candidates agree that the Muslim Brotherhood will not have a future in Egypt, but El-Sisi has adopted stronger language, vowing to "finish off the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt” once and for all.
He also announced that he would not allow any Islamist parties or Islamist trends during his presidency, in accordance with the current constitution that prohibits parties based on religion. “The constitution obliges me to disband religion-based parties” he said, despite his being endorsed by the most important Salafist party in Egypt, the Nour Party.
Sabahi has not mentioned the future of Islamist parties in Egypt, but has said that there “will be no security stalking or harassment” of Islamists in Egypt, or of anyone else, if they are committed to “peacefulness.”
The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation by the cabinet in December.
The military and politics
In his first TV interview after resigning as minister of defence and chief of the armed forces, El-Sisi said “the military institution will not have a role in the management of the country during my term.”
When he was asked about parliamentary supervision of the army budget in the same TV interview, he said “The army is a great institution. All of Egypt should follow the army's example,” avoiding a direct answer to this critical question.
El-Sisi also stated that the army would become involved and provide the government with help in implementing major projects.
Sabahi has been clear about his position regarding the army as well.
“The army’s role is to secure Egypt; it will not get involved in politics and take sides,” he said in an interview, reiterating the point several times.
Sabahi has also stated that during his presidential term there would be parliamentary supervision of the army budget through the national security committee of parliament, in accordance with the 2014 constitution.
Freedoms and human rights
In his first TV interview, which was broadcast by both CBC and ONTV, El-Sisi vowed not to allow security abuses against human rights. “If there are abuses, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he added.
But El-Sisi has also stressed that rights and freedoms must not take precedence over security interests.
“There should be a balance between freedoms and the interests of national security. The media should mobilise public opinion behind a strategic goal and protect the Egyptian state,” he told a group of journalists and chief editors of Egypt’s major newspapers.
In the same meeting, El-Sisi blamed the press for covering protests and publicly criticising officials.
"It is better to whisper in the ears of officials about the problem than to make big noise about it,” he said in the same meeting.
In another recent meeting with a group of intellectuals and writers, El-Sisi vowed to protect freedoms and democracy in accordance with the constitution.
Hamdeen Sabahi, who presents himself as the candidate of the 25 January revolution, has vowed to protect freedom of expression, of the press, of faith and the right to protest.
“Human rights and freedoms in my time as a president will be fully respected," he said in one interview.
Democratic and political reforms
El-Sisi has not revealed much about whether he will adopt political reforms. “Reaching full democracy in Egypt will take no less than 25 years,” he said in a meeting with media figures and journalists.
“I am going to exclude military officials from my administration, except for governors with military backgrounds in the border governorates of Egypt for the sake of national security,” he said in an interview with local privately owned channel ONTV. Some analysts saw this statement as indicating that El-Sisi does not embrace the idea of electing provincial governors, who are appointed by the prime minister at present.
The field marshal has also said that members of his administration will be selected based on their "professionalism and experience."
Sabahi has made more specific comments about possible political reforms.
“I will appoint three vice presidents: one for democracy, one for transitional justice, and one for development,” the presidential candidate said, adding that he will delegate more presidential powers not only to the government but also to governors and local councils.
“We will reduce centralisation, giving the local governors and local councils more powers in the governorates,” he added.
Unlike his rival, Sabahi believes that governors should be elected.
Both candidates have stressed that they would fight corruption.
The right to protest
Protesting has become even more controversial in Egypt in recent months, with a new law passed in November that requires protest organisers to submit plans of their demonstration to the police several days in advance. Those participating in protests that have not been permitted by authorities now face jail sentences.
El-Sisi has said that he would not change the protest law, or pardon those convicted under it.
"This [protest] law came to regulate protests, not to ban them,” El-Sisi said, adding that it is one of the tools of the state in ending the current "chaos” in the country.
“The right to protest is respected but we will not let protests destroy the country,” he has also said.
“The continuing protests are a sign of instability and people are searching for stability,” he said in a recent meeting with editors-in-chief of major newspapers.
As he repeatedly emphasises the importance of work, El-Sisi has also criticised labour strikes. “The protests made the people feel less secure; this is why they have to be regulated,” he said.
Sabahi, however, has vowed to amend the current protest law, describing its current form as “unconstitutional." He also vowed to pardon innocent activists and protesters arrested and imprisoned because of that law while maintaining respect to the judiciary.
Nevertheless, both candidates promised to step down, without the army's interference, if millions of Egyptians protested to demand it, as on 25 January 2011 and 30 June 2013.
The 25 January revolution and Morsi's ouster
The 25 January revolution of 2011, which ousted president Hosni Mubarak, has become an issue of contention in Egyptian public debate, while the date of mass protests against president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, 30 June, has been hailed by the interim authorities and many Egyptians as a second revolution.
“Why can’t we consider 30 June a revolution like the 25 January revolution?" said Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in an interview on ONTV.
El-Sisi added that the 2011 revolution liberated Egyptians from the "inheritance of power scenario", referring to Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal, and that the "30 June revolution” came to correct the path of 25 January revolution.
Nevertheless, the former head of military intelligence who held direct talks with 25 January revolution activists -- like Wael Ghoneim and the April 6 Youth Movement -- admitted that he has not won the revolution's youth on his side.
Sabahi, an opposition politician under Mubarak, presents himself as the true representative of the 25 January revolution and of 30 June. “If it were not for the 25 January Revolution, there would be no 30 June,” he has said.
He is not shy from drawing comparisons between himself and his rival. “I used to stand against Mubarak and his men and was among the first to be against Morsi when others used to salute him,” he said, an oblique reference to El-Sisi who served in the military under both Morsi and Mubarak.
Police reform
“The Egyptian police need complete support in order to restore security in the country,” El-Sisi has said.
Sabahi, however, has vowed to restructure the Ministry of Interior by improving and developing the police force, making criminal activity its primary focus. According to Sabahi, people will be treated fairly in police stations, without any form of abuse, in accordance to the law.
“The focus of National Security will be counter-terrorism... there will be no state security to stalk politicians,” Sabahi has said.
Reform of the interior ministry has been a major demand of revolutionary groups and human rights organisations since the 25 January revolution.
Modernising religious discourse and ideas
In his first TV interview with CBC and ONTV, El-Sisi said he would work on a mechanism to improve and modernise religious discourse in Egypt.
Yet, in another interview on Sky News Arabia, one week after the first, he said something different: “Modernising religious discourse in Egypt is the responsibility of both Al-Azhar and the church, away from state control."
Sabahi also believes that the state should not exercise control over Al-Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Church and that religious discourse is the responsibility of both religious institutions.
“Nevertheless, both Al-Azhar and the Church should not replace the state for the citizens, whether that citizen is Muslim or Christian," Sabahi has said.
Economic reforms 
The former military chief is in favour of austerity measures in Egypt, advising people to adopt an austere lifestyle. El-Sisi has also suggested that businessmen participate in a fund for development.
In an interview with Reuters, he said that he would try to enact subsidy reform. "We are in a fearful situation now in regard to these subsidies and the way they are distributed. But we won't be able to add more pressure to the poor. Yet we can revise subsidies to allocate more of them to the poor rather than the rich."
Leftist-leaning Sabahi has also said he will reform subsidise so that the rich benefit less, especially energy subsidies given to factories.
On taxation, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi rejected progressive taxes, but Sabahi has said he would adopt a progressive taxation system.
Sabahi also said he would impose one-time wealth tax.
Both candidates have also spoken of foreign financial aid, especially from the Gulf. "We do not beg from the Gulf states; their aid will be like a Marshall Plan for Egypt," El-Sisi said in his most recent TV interview.
Israel and Palestine
“The peace treaty is stable in the Egyptian conscience,” said El-Sisi when he was asked about the Camp David Accords and its fate during his meetings with public figures.
In his interview with ONTV, El-Sisi stated that he fully respected the treaty and that he may visit Israel on the condition that it recognises Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
In his interview with Sky News Arabia, El-Sisi said the Camp David Accords could be amended if there was need for that.
On the other hand, Sabahi, who has been a vocal opponent of the peace with Israel, was clear about his position. Despite expressing his full respect for all of Egypt’s signed treaties and agreements, Sabahi said the Camp David Accords would be amended in accordance with international law, in order to have full control of Sinai.
According to the Camp David Accords, the deployment of Egyptian armed forces is restricted in Zone C, the eastern part of the Sinai peninsula. Egyptian armed forces are deployed through an agreement between Egypt, Israel, the US and the UN.
Relations with Ethiopia
“My first visit as president will be to Ethiopia,” said Sabahi when he was asked about what he would do concerning relations with Ethiopia and the ongoing crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Sabahi also added that although he would not waste a single drop of water from Egypt’s historical rights to its share of the Nile River water, he will found an organisation for the Nile Basin countries to reach mutual and joint cooperation and development.
El-Sisi, however, has expressed his complete understanding for Ethiopia's need to develop, although he has said that Nile water is a "matter of life and death" for Egypt.
In his latest TV interview, he said he could visit Ethiopia several times in order to solve this urgent matter.
Relations with Ethiopia were negatively impacted by the construction of the dam on the Blue Nile, one of the tributaries of the Nile. Egypt has argued that its historic rights to Nile water are not being respected.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

US government urges Ethiopia, Egypt to resolve GERD conflict | Infrastructure news

The US government has urged Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to work out their differences surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Speaking during an online press conference, United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the two countries needed to resume negotiations immediately for mutual benefit. “We knew that some talks had taken place and we encourage them to continue to have more talks so that they can find a solution that benefits both sides,” she said.
Meanwhile Egypt’s presidential frontrunner Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has expressed his willingness to visit Ethiopia for talks to resolve the Nile water dispute.
Al-Sisi said he will not hesitate to make any effort for his country and its water rights. “Dialogue and understanding are the best way to resolve the crisis. This is better than going into a dispute or an enmity with anyone,” he told the Al-Ahram Daily.
GERD, located on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia, 42km from the Sudan border, is one of the largest hydropower dam projects in Africa. Ethiopia’s plans to build the $6.4 billion hydroelectric dam caused tension with Egypt because of the dam’s location in Egypt’s primary water source.
According to Thomas-Greenfield, Egypt has repeatedly voiced concerns against the dam, fearing that it will decrease the volume of the water the country has been receiving from the Nile. The Ethiopian government has insisted on its right to develop its natural resources and believes that the dam will not significantly affect the water volume of the downstream countries.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

El-Sisi talks Marshall plan, negotiations with Ethiopia, possible pardon of some prisoners - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online


Ahram Online, 
El-Sisi

Presidential Candidate Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Photo courtesy of El-Sisi official campaign)
Former army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi answered questions about political prisoners, the Ethiopian dam and other issues in the second half of his third pre-election interview on Monday.

Three anchors from the privately owned TV stations Al-Nahar, Dream and Al-Hayat fielded questions at the frontrunner for two hours.
When asked if he would release those jailed for breaking the controversial protest law, El-Sisi said: "I will do anything that will help promote stability and social justice."
He emphasised that he was not speaking about the Muslim Brotherhood.
The former army chief spoke of a "Marshall" plan in the works for Egypt, similar to the US sponsored plan that rebuild Europe in the aftermath of World War II.
El-Sisi said education and health would be at the top of his agenda if he was elected president.
I do not make promises that cannot fulfill, he asserted.
"I hope Egyptians will start to feel some changes within two years [if I am elected president]."
He said he would try to control inflation in order to help poor and middle class people.
He highlighted the "heroic" role of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in the October War of 1973 and the subsequent peace treaty with Israel.
Regarding the Renaissance Dam, El-Sisi called for further negotiations.
The negative effects of the dam must be communicated with clarity to the Ethiopian government, he added.  
Regarding slums, El-Sisi said he would improve them by installing electricity and sewage facilities, and repairing roads.  
El-Sisi rejected the notion that he represents former president Hosni Mubarak and that he is trying to restore the pre-January revolution regime.
Such rumours should not exist, El-Sisi declared, and there should be no room for such fallacies.
He said he had always been impressed by Egyptians' political awareness.
"The 25 January and 30 June revolutions, and the authority Egyptians have given me, shows they are aware of the dangers Egypt is facing."
El-Sisi stressed the crucial role of the media. He said it had always tried to raise the awareness of citizens and he needed it to continue doing this.
Regarding Egypt's relationship with the US, he said he would deal with all foreign countries in the same way.
When told the US government would pressure the new president to include the Muslim Brotherhood in the political process, he said it would first have to convince the Egyptian people.   
Speaking about the Salafist Nour Party, El-Sisi said they would help to build a prosperous Egypt.
He then highlighted the role of Christians in society. He stressed that he was aware of sectarianism, and Egyptians should unite against it.
Egyptians will vote for a new president on 26-27 May.
El-Sisi's only challenger is Nasserist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who finished third in the 2012 poll, which was won by Mohamed Morsi.

Egypt's al-Sisi ready to visit Ethiopia for water talks | Africa | Worldbulletin News


Egypt's al-Sisi ready to visit Ethiopia for water talks

Egypt's presidential frontrunner Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has said that he is ready to visit Ethiopia for talks on resolving their Nile water dispute.


"Dialogue and understanding are the best way to resolve the crisis," al-Sisi said in an interview with the state-run Al-Ahram daily on Saturday.
"This is better than going into a dispute or an enmity with anyone," he added.
The former army chief, who led the army to unseat elected president Mohamed Morsi last July, said that he is ready to visit Ethiopia "if this serves Egypt's interests".
"I will not hesitate in making any effort for my country and its water rights, which is a life-or-death issue," he added.
Relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa soured last year over Ethiopia's plans to build a $6.4-billion hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, which represents Egypt's primary water source.
The project has raised alarm bells in Egypt, which fears a reduction of its historical share of Nile water.
Water distribution among Nile basin states has long been regulated by a colonial-era treaty giving Egypt and Sudan the lion's share of river water. Ethiopia, for its part, says it has never recognized the treaty.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Egyptian Spies Captured While Gathering Intelligence on Ethiopian Dams - theTrumpet.com

The Blue Nile in Guba, Ethiopia, during its diversion ceremony. Ethiopia has begun diverting the Blue Nile as part of a giant dam project.(William Lloyd-George/AFP/Getty Images)

The Blue Nile in Guba, Ethiopia, during its diversion ceremony. Ethiopia has begun diverting the Blue Nile as part of a giant dam project.
(William Lloyd-George/AFP/Getty Images)

Egyptian Spies Captured While Gathering Intelligence on Ethiopian Dams

May 12, 2014  •  From theTrumpet.com
Spying allegations expose mounting tensions over construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The recent arrest of three Egyptian spies by Ethiopian security forces is the latest escalation in tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Captured on May 5 in separate locations across the nation, the three Egyptian men stand accused of gathering intelligence on Ethiopia’s dam system. One man was arrested at the Abobo Dam, while the other two were arrested as they attempted to travel to the GERD. It is the latter of the two dams that is of greater significance.
(Click to enlarge) Map: Grand Renaissance Dam Project, EthiopiaThe GERD is a massive hydroelectric dam being constructed on the headwaters of the Nile River in Ethiopia. It will be the largest dam in Africa, coming in at over 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) long, and it will have a capacity of over 2.6 billion gallons of water. More important than its size, this dam’s geopolitical significance is immense.
Egypt sees this dam as a direct threat to its own national stability. Almost 100 percent of Egypt’s 83 million inhabitants live on the banks of the north-flowing Nile. Egyptians see the GERD as the equivalent of a giant spigot that Ethiopia is capable of turning on and off at will.
With Egypt so dependent on the Nile, any threat to those life-giving waters is seen as a threat to the nation itself. While Ethiopia claims the dam won’t affect the water flow to the north, it hasn’t been enough to convince the Egyptians.
Negotiations have been rough, with Egypt threatening to bomb the dam should its construction be finished. Egypt has a vast army and works closely with South Sudan, which recently established a military pact with Egypt. These factors lend credibility to the Egyptian threats.
Read More: War Over The Nile RiverEgypt is currently embroiled in enough strife at home with elections and terrorists running wild in the Sinai Peninsula. It doesn’t need a conflict with Ethiopia on top of that. But, should the Nile River suddenly become the Nile Creek, Egypt would be forced into action.
The arrest of the three spies shows that despite its domestic struggles, Egypt is still wary of the Ethiopian threat to the south. Once Egypt regains its domestic footing, prepare for it to focus more attention on defending its Achilles heel/lifeline: the Nile River.
This particular African crisis is only a degree or two away from boiling over. Do you want to know more about how Egypt is about to respond to the GERD threat? If you do, follow this link to the analysis written by columnist Robert Morley, “War Over the Nile River.”