Egypt says it is carefully weighing its response to a new agreement signed by five upriver countries, which could affect its current majority share of the river's waters.

Egypt's Middle East News Agency said Mubarak, Kenya's Raila Odinga and Congolese President Joseph Kabila reviewed in two separate meetings cooperation between Egypt and other Nile basin countries “in irrigation and agriculture.” Egypt initially shunned the framework agreement, signed earlier this month by Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, because it fails to protect what Cairo calls its “historic” water rights.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad said after the meetings that Odinga “clearly said that neither Kenya nor any of the upriver countries would think of harming Egypt's water interests.” He did not elaborate.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Saturday talks with the signatories are ongoing to determine whether Egypt will stay out of the agreement, formally called the “Nile Basin Initiative.” Egyptian officials have said the agreement could still be amended, calling the Nile waters a “red line” or a national security issue for their country.

Next month, Egypt's Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza and Investment Minister Mahmud Mohiedine will head to Ethiopia and Uganda for talks with officials there.

A 1929 colonial-era treaty gives Egypt majority rights to the Nile's waters. Upstream countries want to be able to use more of the Nile waters for development projects.

Egypt's annual share of Nile waters is 55.5 billion cubic meters.

The new agreement lays down principles of cooperative water resources management. It will pave the way for the establishment of a permanent Nile River Basin Commission.

In addition to Egypt, Sudan also rejected the deal while Eritrea has not spelled out a clear position.