April 17, 2010 -- Water Resource Minister Asfaw Dengamo said the Extraordinary Nile Council of Ministers' Meeting (Nile-COM) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on April 13, 2010 was successful.

The Minister said Egypt and Sudan rejected the position of upper stream countries to sign the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) saying that it does not reflect the position of all countries.

In a press conference he gave here on Friday, Asfaw said Nile Upper stream countries have agreed on fair utilization and sustainable development of the Nile resource.

He said the upper stream countries which reached agreement include, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania , Uganda and Burundi.

The countries reiterated their position to move forward with the signing of the CFA based on the decisions of the Extraordinary Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) Meeting held in May 2009 in Kinshasa.

He said the countries have agreed that the signing procedure of the CFA shall remain open not more than one year from May 14, 2010. The countries are ready to see any alternative harmonized with the decision.

Signing of the agreement will be implemented based on the constitutional systems of the countries.

Egypt rejected the decision by forwarding additional difference on two articles, which were agreed upon earlier. Sudan, which did not attend the meeting, also followed Egypt to reject the agreement.

The 17th ministerial regular meeting held in Alexandria, Egypt last July has given additional six months for consultation and preparation with a view to making the agreement reflect position of all countries.

He said professionals of upper and lower stream countries have presented to the meeting their reports, which reflect differences.