Trump calls Egypt president to support Nile dam talks

<p>Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday said he was happy to have the United States lead mediation efforts to resolve a dam dispute with Ethiopia.</p> <p>Sisi, who spoke with US president Donald Trump on Monday, posted a message on his official Facebook page, praised the latter for ‘efforts he exerts to have the tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia’.</p> <p>‘‘I assert my full trust in this mediation that could realize a consensual resolution that considers the rights of all parts involved as per the principles of the International law and human Justice,’‘ read president Sisi’s official Facebook page.</p> <p>Egypt’s foreign minister said last week the Trump administration had invited the three countries to a meeting in Washington on Nov. 6 to try to break the deadlock in the talks. </p> <p>“President Trump expressed support for Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan’s ongoing negotiations to reach a collaborative agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.</p> <p>The statement did not mention any meeting in Washington.</p> <p>Egypt fears the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (<span class="caps">GERD</span>) could restrict already scarce supplies of water from the Nile, on which it is almost entirely dependent. Ethiopia says the dam is crucial to its economic development.</p> <p>Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed spoke to US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo last week, but the issue of the dam was not discussed.</p>