Egypt stresses need to reach legally-binding deal on GERD

In his meeting with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall in Paris Wednesday, President Sisi stressed Egypt’s firm stance on the importance of reaching a legally-binding and comprehensive agreement on filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in such a way that does not harm the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.

The two leaders agreed to continue consultations in the coming period to resolve this issue in order to avoid its negative impact on the security and stability of the entire region, the presidency spokesman said.

Ambassador Radi said that the two sides commended the continued development of bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields, especially in the light of the importance the Senegal country enjoys in the West African region.

Sall voiced his great appreciation for the vital role Egypt plays to achieve comprehensive development and maintain peace and security in the entire African continent through sharing its various expertise and offering distinguished potentials in all fields.

The two presidents discussed a number of African issues of mutual concern, especially in the light of the upcoming Senegalese presidency of the African Union in 2022. They agreed to step up joint coordination and consultation regarding the development of these issues including supporting African relation with various regional gatherings all over the world and with the Arab world.

The two leaders stressed the need to build on the results of the successful visit by President Sisi to Dakar in April 2019, during which a consensus was made on the necessity of holding an Egyptian-Senegalese Joint Committee in Dakar, to serve as a starting point for further co-operation between the two countries and to enable them to review all aspects of bilateral relations.