The text states that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed in a telephone conversation about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Shoukry affirmed that he hopes to maintain consultations and coordination with Paris about this issue, after recalling that he is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He insisted on the need to sign a legally binding agreement with Ethiopia to regulate the filling of the GERD, in order to secure Egypt’s water rights.

Tension escalated in July after Addis Ababa announced the start of the second stage of filling of the dam, a decision questioned by Egypt and Sudan, whose governments claim that this action should not have started without an agreement between the parties because they fear a substantial drop in their access to the river water.

The GERD, which will produce about 6,450 megawatts, has been a source of conflict since its construction began a decade ago.

Both foreign ministers agreed to respect the Tunisian people’s will, following Sunday’s decision by President Kais Saied to dismiss Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and suspend Parliament for 30 days.

pgh/iff/oda/rob