GERD negotiations at standstill – Irrigation Minister

Egypt’s negotiations with Ethiopia over GERD are now “all but frozen,” even as talks remain sponsored by the international community and the African Union, Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Aty told journalists yesterday. Authorities are ready to engage in serious negotiations to reach a legally binding agreement on operating the dam, Abdel Aty said, noting that Egypt will not allow the situation to develop into a “water crisis.” After recent efforts to persuade the UN Security Council to intervene in the dispute fell flat, an exact date to resume the negotiations has yet to be set.