CAIRO: According to Egypt's State Information Service, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hisham Qandeel said that Egypt, Sudan and Congo will not sign the framework agreement, known as the Entebbe agreement, until their needs and interests are met, particularly so, that the agreement is not binding to them. In statements to reporters during a tour of Damietta and Kafr el-Sheikh governorates on Saturday 25/2/2012, the minister said relations between Egypt and other Nile Basin states are developing within the framework of cooperation, referring to Egypt's technical assistance offered to these countries and the funding of development projects there as well. Water management issues are at the fore of Egypt's sense of identity and also considered a matter of national security. There is much concern among the general public, and too, the new leadership on matters regarding the Nile Basin Initiative, which is a multi-nation discussion of water management issues in this region. The explosive population rate of countries in the Nile Basin, which increase the amount of water these nations require for industry, agriculture, hydro-power, livestock and personal use, make agreement on water management issues difficult. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/ZXOyU Tags: Entebbee Agreement, Nile Basin Initiative, water managment Section: Africa, Egypt, Environment, Latest News