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Egyptian Coptic Church tapped to play mediator in Nile River dispute

Egypt is looking to capitalize on the Coptic Church’s disputed influence to affect relations between Ethiopia and Egypt on the Nile water-sharing and Renaissance Dam dossier.
Coptic Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, shakes hands with former army-chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi upon Sisi's arrival for a visit the night before Easter, in Cairo, April 19, 2014.     REUTERS/Al Youm Al Saabi Newspaper   (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION) EGYPT OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN EGYPT - RTR3LWBX
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CAIRO — As tensions continue between Cairo and Ethiopia over the construction of the Renaissance Dam of Ethiopia despite political efforts in both countries to overcome the dispute over sharing Nile water, the Egyptian government is involving the Egyptian Coptic Church and encouraging it to play a role of mediation and convergence of views over the issue.

On Aug. 25, the minister of water resources and irrigation, Hossam El Din Maghazi, announced at a press conference attended by Al-Monitor the signing of a cooperation agreement with Pope Tawadros II, the pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

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