Hijjah, 1431/Nov. 23, 2010, SPA -- Egypt said it was "amazed" by remarks made on Tuesday by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to Reuters on his country's relations with Egypt. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement issued here this evening: "What is essentially surprising is the remarks of Ethiopian Prime Minister on a military confrontation between the two countries on the Nile waters". The Egyptian position in this matter is well known and declared that Egypt does not consider war as an option for the Nile waters, Zaki pointed out. He explained that the options on which the Egyptian policy based are those of dialogue, negotiation, cooperation and consultation in addition to the resorting to international law and the acquired rights of States. "The charges that Egypt is exploiting rebel groups against the ruling regime in Ethiopia are completely devoid of truth.", Zaki stressed. "Egypt is firmly behind its legal and political positions on the issue of the Nile water," Zaki said, adding that Egypt had pursued dialogue and cooperation on the use of the Nile's waters.
