Addis Ababa: The Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) is a harmonious and consistent embodiment of internationally accepted water law, according to Yassin Ahmed, head of the Ethiopian Institute of Public Diplomacy. He emphasized that the CFA provides vital legal frameworks for managing transboundary water resources. After more than a decade of negotiations, the CFA officially took effect on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the management of the Nile River's waters among the countries that share this vital resource. Yassin told ENA that the CFA aligns with international water law, which promotes peaceful cooperation among countries and optimizes socio-economic and environmental benefits. The Entebbe Agreement nullifies all colonial-era agreements and is firmly rooted in international water law, he noted. He explained that the CFA aligns with the principles set forth in the 2014 international law governing transit waters. It is crucial to recognize that the Security Council and the United Nations cannot overlook this agreement, as it is grounded in international water law, Yassin said. Regarding historical rights, he pointed out that the Entebbe Agreement challenges previous claims. The CFA will rectify past inequities in access to the Nile's waters, ensuring that all Nile Basin nations, both upstream and downstream, can equally benefit from this shared resource, he added. Yassin urged Egypt to embrace regional cooperation with its Nile Basin neighbors, asserting that Egypt has no alternative but to engage collaboratively. He expressed optimism that Egypt would reconnect with the African community, noting, Ethiopia serves as Egypt's gateway to Africa, a region from which it has been largely absent for over four decades. He emphasized the importance of Egyptian officials recognizing and cooperating with Nile Basin countries. According to him, the era of monopolizing the Nile's waters is over. Egyptian leadership must acknowledge shared interests with Nile Basin nations, particularl y Ethiopia, Yassin said. Source: Ethiopian News Agency