Iraq demands more water from Turkey
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

Iraq yesterday asked Turkey to release more water into the country from the Tigris River, an issue that has caused serious problems between the two nations over the years.

“We want more water [from Turkey] due to the drought,” Iraqi Water Resources Minister Dr. Latif Rashid said during a visit to Ankara yesterday. Rashid, who met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said he bore three messages from his Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.

One of the messages was about the water, Rashid told reporters. “Our irrigation system totally depends on the Tigris and Euphrates. Turkey supplied us with enough waters in recent years. But we have difficulties this year. We need more water to lighten our problem,” he said.

The waters of both the Tigris and Euphrates have caused severe problems between Turkey, the source country and downstream countries, Iraq and Syria, during the ‘90s. Both countries accused Turkey of not providing enough water, and tried to block the construction of some dams on these rivers. But technical experts from the three countries came together a few months ago to discuss the problem and ways to overcome them.

According to Rashid, Maliki's second message is on the establishment of a high-level committee between the two countries, which will be co-chaired by two ministers. And finally, Rashid said he brought an invitation from Maliki to Erdoðan.

Erdoðan is expected to visit Baghdad in the coming days. Diplomats argue that the date has already been set but will not be announced due to security concerns. The prime minister's visit, which is expected in the first week of June, is seen as a historic trip since it will be the first prime ministerial visit in a long time.

Diplomatic sources said the visit will be a short one but all bilateral and international issues will be discussed. Security will be an important topic alongside energy, trade and other economic matters.

Turkey and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of fight against terrorism last year when Maliki visited Ankara but the document could not be ratified in Iraqi parliament due to opposition from Iraqi Kurdish groups.