Egyptian Ambassador to Rome Bassam Radi has outlined Egypt’s position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), stressing that Cairo does not oppose development or prosperity in any country, but that this must not come at the expense of other countries’ rights or Egypt’s water security.
In an interview with the popular Porta a Porta talk show broadcast on Rai 1, Radi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to safeguarding its historical rights to Nile waters through a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the dam.
Radi said he chose to conduct the interview in Italian, given the wide viewership of Rai channels and the programme, to present Egypt’s position directly to the Italian public without translation. The interview followed recent Ethiopian statements concerning control of Nile waters.
The programme also aired footage and information about the GERD, including images from inside the dam and its surrounding area.
Radi explained that a legally binding agreement is required under international law governing the use of shared and transboundary rivers. He said negotiations had failed to produce such an agreement because of what he described as a lack of Ethiopian political will.
Radi highlighted Egypt’s severe water scarcity, noting that its annual per capita water availability is below 500 cubic metres, according to United Nations classifications and standards.
He said Egypt’s annual share of Nile water is 55.5 billion cubic metres, while Ethiopia receives around 950 billion cubic metres of rainwater annually.
The ambassador stressed that the Nile is Egypt’s only source of water and that the issue therefore represents an existential matter for the country.
Concluding the interview, Radi reaffirmed Egypt’s firm position, stressing that “Egypt has not and will not compromise on its water security”.
