Former UN chief : Nile basin cooperation important

Former United Nations secretary general Boutros Ghali underlined the importance of cooperation among Nile basin countries. Most of the Nile basin countries can establish regional projects but cannot afford to fund large infrastructure ones, Ghali told MENA. The negotiations held under the umbrella of the Nile Basin Initiative have failed due to the absence of coordination and planning, he said. The possibility of a water war cannot be ruled out because of the countries' failure to develop appropriate infrastructure, lack of clear water management plans and rampant corruption, he said. Egypt and Sudan reject to have a new water distribution plan and it is hard to reach a solution that takes into account the historic rights acquired by the two nations and the right for fair use, he said. Egypt has to adopt new cultivation and irrigation method, he said. The country is still depending on flood irrigation, which ineffectively consumes a very huge amount of water, he added.