Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has expressed support for Egypt's efforts to safeguard its water rights along the Nile River, advocating for strict compliance with international law and peaceful diplomatic solutions to cross-border water disputes.
Speaking during a joint press statement alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Sunday, President Prabowo expressed concern over actions that could restrict a nation's access to vital water supplies.
"We are deeply concerned if there are thoughts of violating international law to reduce a nation's right to secure water sources," President Prabowo stated.
He stressed that natural resource issues must be resolved by prioritizing shared regional interests and safeguarding every nation's right to guaranteed access to essential water resources.
"We hope that all parties will promote mutual interests for the region, and we will support Egypt's efforts to secure its water rights," Prabowo added.
For his part, President El-Sisi underscored the strategic significance of the waterway to his country, describing it as indispensable to national security and human survival.
"The Nile River is the lifeblood of the Egyptian people. I emphasize as strongly as possible that Egypt has its rights related to this water and rejects everything that would endanger its water security," El-Sisi declared.
President El-Sisi also expressed his appreciation for President Prabowo’s invitation and highlighted his ambition to deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors between Indonesia and Egypt.
Escalating tensions
The joint statement comes amid a long-standing dispute centered on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a massive hydroelectric project constructed by Ethiopia upstream on the Blue Nile.
The project has drawn strong opposition from downstream nations Egypt and Sudan over concerns regarding water allocation and drought management.
Tensions in the region have heightened following recent diplomatic fallout, including Ethiopia's decision to sever ties with neighboring Eritrea and subsequent diplomatic expulsions between Cairo and Addis Ababa.
Prior to his visit to Jakarta, President El-Sisi addressed African leaders during a meeting with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, chairperson of the African Union, at the Alamein Africa Forum in New Alamein city.
During those talks, El-Sisi firmly rejected using Nile water rights for political leverage and called for peaceful resolutions to Horn of Africa conflicts.
While the African Union Commission has called on all involved nations to exercise calm and restraint, Cairo expressed reservations regarding the commission's recent statements on the dispute.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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