Egypt's President Warns Ethiopia That "All Options Are Open" Re. Blue Nile Dam Project
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's president on Monday hardened his stance against Ethiopia and its construction of a Nile dam, warning that "all options are open" in dealing with the project that threatens to leave Egypt with a dangerous water shortage.
Speaking in a live televised speech before hundreds of supporters, Mohammed Morsi said Egypt is not calling for war, but it is willing to confront any threats to its water security. "If it loses one drop, our blood is the alternative," he said to a raucous crowd of largely Islamist supporters that erupted into a standing ovation.
Ethiopia's $4.2 billion hydroelectric dam, which would be Africa's largest, challenges a colonial-era agreement that had given Egypt and Sudan the lion's share of rights to Nile water. Experts estimate that Egypt could lose as much as 20 percent of its Nile water in the three to five years needed for Ethiopia to fill a massive reservoir. "If Egypt is the Nile's gift, then the Nile is a gift to Egypt," Morsi said in his opening remarks.
The president's speech reflected the importance of the Nile River to Egypt. It provides almost all of the fresh water to a country that is otherwise largely parched desert. As much as 85 percent of the Nile's water comes from Ethiopia.
"We are not calling for war, but we will not allow, at all, threats against our water security," Morsi said before adding, "all options are open."
EDIT
http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Egypt-warns-all-options-open-for-Ethiopia-Nile-dam-4590927.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
"We are not calling for war, but we will not allow, at all, threats against our water security," Morsi said before adding, "all options are open."
Yeah, that doesn't sound threatening AT ALL
Hope Ethiopia has some good friends in the Russian arms industry.....
Egyptian politicians: Sabotage Ethiopia's new dam
Politicians meeting with Egypt's president on Monday proposed hostile acts against Ethiopia,
including backing rebels and carrying out sabotage, to stop it from building a massive dam
on the Nile River upstream.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014500101
U.S. quietly allows military aid to Egypt despite rights concerns
Secretary of State John Kerry quietly acted last month to give Egypt $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid,
deciding that this was in the national interest despite Egypt's failure to meet democracy standards.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014502716
