Abdel Aty: We will not accept the construction of any new dams in violation of the law

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Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, confirmed that the Egyptian position on developments related to relations with Ethiopia is clear and consistent, stressing Cairo’s rejection of any unilateral measures related to the waters of the Nile or the establishment of facilities on a cross-border international waterway without coordination and prior notification.

Abdel Ati said in special statements to Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net, on Sunday, on the sidelines of the El Alamein Africa Forum, that Egypt “will not be drawn into statements coming from here or there whose purpose is to distract attention from the internal crises that are occurring,” stressing that Cairo wants goodness and stability for all countries.

He also added that his country "will not be a peg to comment on internal mistakes and problems," stressing that "the Egyptian position is clear, in closed rooms and in public, and there is no room for acceptance or tolerance of any unilateral measures."

In addition, he stressed Egypt’s refusal to “build any new dams in violation of the rules of international law,” stressing the need for consultation between upstream and downstream countries. He said: "There is no room for establishing any facilities on any international cross-border route without coordination and prior notification," noting that "these are established principles that exist in international law."

As for internal developments in Ethiopia, Abdel Ati stressed that Egypt is not a party to them, saying: “We are not a party at all to what is happening inside Ethiopia, and we do not comment or interfere in the affairs of Ethiopia or others.”

He added that he expected the African Union Commission to issue an “explanatory statement” regarding what was raised in this context.

The Foreign Minister also affirmed Egypt's rejection of escalation, saying: "I am against escalation, as there are no military solutions," indicating that this position applies to crises in Sudan, Iran, Lebanon, and any region in the world.

Regarding whether Egypt was a party to the escalation linked to Ethiopia, Abdel Ati said that Cairo was “surprised by the unjustified step taken by Ethiopia.”

The African Union Commission recently issued a statement regarding what it described as escalating tension between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt. In its statement, the Commission called on the three countries to exercise the utmost restraint and refrain from any actions or statements that would escalate tensions and threaten regional peace and stability, while keeping channels of communication open and settling disputes through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.

During the past two days, Egyptian-Ethiopian relations witnessed diplomatic development, after Ethiopia announced on October 1 that it considered an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata and gave him a 48-hour period to leave the country, without explaining the reasons for the decision.

Egypt responded in kind, declaring a counselor at the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo persona non grata and giving him the same deadline to leave. This coincided with the escalation of tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, after Addis Ababa announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and the expulsion of 10 Eritrean diplomats, before Eritrea announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.