South Sudan backs Egypt's stance vis-as-vis GERD, Mr Halawa

South Sudan backs Egypt's stance, founded on justice and striking a balance between development requirements and rights of all parties, vis-à-vis the Great Renaissance Ethiopian Dam (GERD), according to member of Egypt's Senate Council Mohamed Halawa.

"President Abd El-Fattah El-Sisi underscored Egypt's interest in protecting its own national security as well as neighbors and friends' and highlighted the fact that Egypt is well aware of its own points of strengths and how deep the region relies on it," he added.

With the attendance of South Sudan's dignitaries, the hearty reception President El-Sisi got once he arrived at the South Sudan's Capital of Juba signifies Egypt's distinction and importance in Africa.  

"Egypt played a key role in stabilizing South Sudan with the help of its mediation effort and tutelage of negations and talks with the government of Sudan in order to resolve their  strife, now becoming something of the past."

 Egypt still supports Juba's development agenda by the means of cementing cooperation, holding partnerships, providing aids, technical and physical assistance in the fields of healthcare, education, agriculture, etc, he noted.

"That is exactly what President El-Sisi has clearly said during the visit, as brothers in South Sudan appreciated the support they receive from Egypt which is esteemed there highly."

Juba upholds the Egyptian stand regarding the water case, a fact that testifies to strong relations binding the two countries, the fairness of the Egyptian standpoint, Egypt's ability to run its foreign policy on the basis of friendship and cooperation with all parties and to build its own national security cycles while adhering to deep and serious approach taking note of all parties, he explained.

Addionally, Egypt has deep cordial relations with the Arab to the East, and strong relations with European and Mediterranean countries to the north. It has also revived the Egyptian presence in Africa to the south, notably South Sudan.

Egypt holds very cordial relations with the latter's late leader John Garang and the seated president Salva Kiir Mayardit, as  well as vice president Riek Machar.

That is exactly what President El-Sisi has alluded to in his historic speech delivered recently in Juba.