The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the statements issued by the Ethiopian side regarding the expected “major shift” in the use of Nile water, after the entry into force of the “Entey” Agreement.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister said, in a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Paris, today, Wednesday: “We will not accept any infringement on Egyptian water security, and Egypt cannot accept any infringement on its water share or causing any harm.”

He added: “We are taking all measures guaranteed by international law to defend our water interests,” according to local media.

The so-called Nile Basin Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA), known as the “Entebbe” Agreement, which was concluded by several countries, led by Ethiopia, entered into force last Sunday, 14 years after its signing.

This agreement does not recognize the historical shares of Egypt and Sudan from the river’s waters, which were determined according to agreements concluded since the last century, but Ethiopia and some Nile Basin countries reject them and describe them as agreements left by the colonial countries of the African continent.

The Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy, Engineer Habtamu Etefa, announced yesterday, Tuesday, that “the Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement will bring about a major shift towards the use of water resources, indicating that it is a reliable backbone.”

For its part, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The principles stipulated in the agreement correct historical errors, ensure fair use, and enhance mutual understanding and shared responsibility.”

Egypt and Sudan preceded the entry into force of the agreement by holding a consultative meeting of the joint permanent technical body for the Nile Waters between them, and they issued a joint statement in which they affirmed their rejection of the Entebbe Agreement, and that it is a non-binding agreement that violates international legal principles.