CAIRO, May 19 (UPI) -- Egyptian rights to Nile River water are unbreakable and will be defended strongly, said Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif.
Egypt under existing treaties dating back to 1929 controls 87 percent of the water in the Nile and has veto power over upstream activities. Other African countries in the river basin say the treaties are obsolete, maintaining they have more water rights since gaining independence.
Nazif told reporters that Egypt is not in danger by a decision last week by Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda to move ahead with a water-sharing agreement. Egyptian rights to the water, he said, are untouchable and will be defended strongly, the state-run Egypt State Information Service reports.
The prime minister said Cairo was keen on developing the river basin through joint cooperation, adding a commission for Nile basin states could bring about more positive developments. Nazif, meanwhile, said the African agreement signed last week was non-binding.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrives Saturday in Cairo to discuss the bilateral relationship with Egypt.
Kenya on Tuesday sent the African agreement on the Nile to Parliament for approval.
