The Arab Parliament has addressed the United Nations Security Council regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which will be discussed this Thursday at the request of Egypt and Sudan. Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, President of the Arab Parliament, sent an urgent message to Nicolas de Rivière, President of the Security Council, urging the Council to fulfill its responsibilities assigned by the international community to maintain international peace and security. He called for a binding position during this session that leads to a fair and binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the Ethiopian Dam.
**National and Moral Responsibility**
In his address, the Arab Parliament President stated that their communication is based not only on national and moral responsibilities towards solidarity with two member states and supporting them in preserving their legal and historical rights to the waters of the Nile River, but also on international law, conventions, and agreements governing international rivers, especially since the Nile is an international river with shared ownership among all riparian states. He asserted that sovereignty over this international river cannot be imposed or monopolized by any party in any manner, and it is unacceptable to impose a new reality controlled by upstream countries over downstream states.
Al-Asoumi emphasized that both Egypt and Sudan have participated in good faith in negotiation rounds over the past decade, demonstrating responsible and balanced positions reflecting their keen interest in reaching an agreement that considers the interests of all parties. However, Ethiopia's obstinate positions have hindered reaching this agreement.
In his message, Al-Asoumi added, “You may agree with us that it has become unacceptable for the negotiation process to continue indefinitely without a resolution, and it is necessary to reach a fair and balanced legal agreement that serves the interests of all parties, as this is the optimal solution to end the crisis and the only way to maintain security and stability in the region. This is the role our peoples expect from the United Nations Security Council.”
He concluded his address by requesting the conveyance of this stance, which represents all Arab peoples, to the members of the Security Council, expressing hope that the Council will fulfill its grave responsibility entrusted to it in maintaining international peace and security.
