Eritrea's President Isaias supports Egypt over Ethiopia on Nile river issue
Published 05/15/2010
- 4:17 p.m. GMT
(JT) According to a publication by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, President Isaias Afwerki has reached an agreement with Egypt on various bilateral matters. President Isaias Afewerki said the Nile Littoral States (Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda etc) are however making the "wrong agreements and regulations" on the use of the Nile river. In an interview with Egyptian Television, Isaias said the position of upstream Nile countries "not only aggravates the situation but also creates tension. "
On May 14, upstream Nile river countries signed a new Nile treaty to replace old colonial treaties. The old treaties between Egypt and Sudan as well as with the old British Empire awarded Egypt nearly full control of the Nile resources despite Egypt contributing less than 5 percent to the river. The new agreement came after ten years of negotiations for equitable use of the river.
The new treaty allows the upstream nations to build hydroelectric dams and large scale irrigation projects along the Nile river. Some Egyptian and Sudanese officials have reacted angrily over the new treaty and demanded that Ethiopia and other upstream nations use the rain instead of the river, despite failing rains in Ethiopia have caused several droughts that killed tens of thousands of people.
However, some Egyptian economists have advised the Cairo government to invest in development projects in upstream nations in order to import food and electric power from countries like Ethiopia instead of threatening war on all east African countries.
Do not forget that Nile is the result of rain in our high lands. Therefore, please try to be human and invest in Ethiopia to overcome deforestation, the main reason for draught and desertification. Remember you need us more than we do. If you think WAR is the solution so be it and enjoy yourself.Let me grant you, you'll never win if your end goal is the NILE!!! Think of all possiblities of damage can be carried by victims of your WAR!!! therefore think of a win-win solution, not war!!!
The question to the Egyptian is , do u want some water, if you do then please find way to fix the problem diplomatically, war is not an option my friends. The Ethiopians are far more powerfully nation than it was years ago. It’s our water and we are willing to share with our friends. You are too worried about your nation, what about ours. We have million with our power in some cases no food. We the Ethiopian must use all our natural resources in order to advance our economy and at same time help our friends who are willing to get on the same page.
We are moving forward with out you. Before its too late, I suggest you get on the board. You are not in position to dictate how other nations should use their natural resources.
And hopefully a agreement can be reached to satisfy all Nations.
Both partys have to improve thier water reservation structure.
A agreement against Egypt that will threat Egypts water supply will without a doubt end in a war. A war that will cripple the upstream river countrys effort to rebuild. We can all have aggressive retoric, but a fact is that no dam or structure will be able to stand against Egypts will. Its a fact and lets all try to solve this in a way everybody benifits from
As Egyptian, I believe that all countries on the nile should benefit from it accordingly. What is ironic is that Ethiopia wastes over 100 billion cubic meters of rain water annually and instead of building reservoirs to store them, they plan to choke the nile river with these stupid dams! As African, I invite all Africans to stop this politically motivated suicide. Final point, if dams are built just to hurt Egypt, then , we reserve the right to defend our source of life!
hello every african people i am not agree with the above topic.the nile is a gift of Gad so that all the african peaple can use it. its not for Egypt .who r whose ?
Egypt and Sudan sale their natural resources (oil, gas ...) to those poor African countries, Nile water is a natural resources to Africa countrie. These African countries have full right to sale it to any country in the world wants to buy their water. Those poor countries will prvide health services, food to their people the revenue they gets. We never asked Egypt and Sudan to give us their natural resources free even if we are poor we pay to them every time. They have been useing our water for free many years that has to be end. We have the right to do what ever we want the water we have in our land.
Let me ask Egypt and Sudan, do you think Africans doesn't worth any thing when they die in starvation, & lack of water and rain.
Egyptians and some Arabs believe Eritrea is their slave. Isayas just proves that. The low life people in E Africa. Egypt say no we don't need your help. That is prety cheap is not?
