Arab diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Khartoum meeting on Friday “tackled all details related to Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam, however, fell short of solving technical issues.” The sources added that the file is currently in the hands of the irrigation ministers of the three concerned countries: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. On Wednesday and Thursday, discussion held in the Sudanese capital between foreign ministers, irrigation ministers and intelligence officers of the three countries, failed to resolve differences over the Renaissance Dam, which is being built along the Nile. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, who looked tired on Friday, left an 18-hour meeting of talks by saying, “We spent the whole day talking as ordered by the leaders of the three countries, but we didn’t reach an agreement… I can’t specify what the disagreements were, but they were technical issues.” However, diplomatic sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat “the presence of a sincere desire to come out with a joint decision for implementing recommendations set by leaders of the three concerned countries.” The sources added that the file would be further discussed during meetings of technical committees and the irrigation ministers of the three countries. In 2011, the Ethiopian government began construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile near the border with Sudan. Since, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan held several rounds of talks on the dam’s anticipated impact on Nile water resources without reaching a consensus solution. Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that the Khartoum talks were held in complete frankness and openness. Abu Zeid revealed the presence of agreements over a number of issues, but added that more time was needed to discuss other pending files. “In Egypt, we are concerned by the delay of issuing studies related to the harm caused by the Dam on Egypt and Sudan, and the means to prevent those damages,” the spokesperson said, adding that declaration of principles agreed between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan in 2015 is considered the sole legal framework that rules the collaborative relationship between the three countries. Egypt already expressed concern the dam could harmfully affect its share of Nile water.