Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan Monday agreed a preliminary deal on a controversial dam project that Cairo feared would reduce its share of vital waters from the Nile.
The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan all gathered in Khartoum to sign the agreement of principles on Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam project.
"I confirm the construction of the Renaissance Dam will not cause any damage to our three states and especially to the Egyptian people," Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said at the signing ceremony.
Egypt, heavily reliant for millennia on the Nile for agriculture and drinking water, feared that the Grand Renaissance Dam would decrease its water supply.
However, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that "this is a framework agreement and it will be completed".
"We have chosen cooperation, and to trust one another for the sake of development."
Sisi said the final accord will "achieve benefits and development for Ethiopia without harming Egypt and Sudan's interests".
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir hailed the deal as "historic".
The agreement is made up of 10 principles, Egypt's Water Resources Minister Hussam al-Maghazi said.
The countries agreed on the "fair use of waters and not to damage the interests of other states by using the waters".
They also agreed to establish "a mechanism for solving disputes as they occur", Maghazi said.
He gave no details as to when the final agreement would be signed.
PHOTO: Arial view taken in 2008 shows the Nile running through the ancient city of Cairo, Egypt.
CREDIT: AFP Photo/Khaled Desouki.