Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks at the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Abdelatty accused Ethiopia of violating international norms with its unilateral actions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), stating that Addis Ababa’s moves threaten stability in the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Nile Basin.
He said that Ethiopia may think that completing the GERD means Egypt will forget its rights in the Nile, but it is “deluding itself”.
The minister warned that Cairo is prepared to pursue judicial or arbitration mechanisms “if there is genuine intent” from the other side, but said such intent “has not and will not exist.”
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s position that cooperation under international law is the only path to mutual benefit. “Experience has shown that unilateral measures deepen crises and widen divisions,” he added.
He also outlined a joint Egyptian-Saudi vision for regional security, which was adopted by the Arab League, as a framework for achieving balanced and sustainable stability.
He emphasized the preservation of the nation-state, strengthening institutions, and combating terrorism as pillars of regional stability.
Turning to migration, Abdelatty said Egypt is hosting more than 10 million refugees, providing access to services and rights “without discrimination.”
He challenged other countries to match this commitment, calling for the principle of burden-sharing under the International Refugee Convention to be applied fairly and equitably.
Despite mounting economic and regional crises, Abdelatty said, Egypt continues to uphold its “moral and humanitarian obligations.”
He also called for urgent reform of the UN and international financial institutions to ensure fairer representation for developing countries, and condemned recent attacks on nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards as violations of international law.
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