Khartoum--Sudan army spokesperson, Khaled al-Sawarmi on Thursday said potential South Sudan secession does not pose a threat to Nile-sharing agreements.

"Modifying international agreements is not that easy," al-Sawarmi said in an interview with the Sudanese al-Intibaha newspaper. "No one has the right to change it [Nile water agreement], unless all parties agree."

Egypt fears a 9 January south Sudanese referendum vote in favor of independence will impact its dominance over Nile flow. According to a 1959 agreement struck between Cairo and Khartoum, Egypt receives 55.5 billion meters square annually of Nile water.

"Even if south Sudan separated and became an independent state," al-Sawarmi continued, "it will be met with the same issues as Sudan, including debts, policies and protocols."

Five of upstream riparian countries in April signed the Entebbe agreement, which presses for redistribution of the Nile flow. Analysts predict the agreement could lead to conflict between upstream and downstream nations.

Some East African countries, particularly Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, have repeatedly requested the nullification of the original Nile sharing agreement, brokered in 1929, claiming it doesn't adequately serve upstream interests. The agreement's legitimacy is questionable due to its construction under British colonial rule.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.