Turkey uses water to blackmail neighboring countries: politician
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Labor Party, Haytham al-Jindi, said, “Turkey uses the water as blackmail against Syria and Iraq.”
Al-Jindi told North Press that “Turkey resorts to cutting the water of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers frequently and has built several dams on them, which affects the water shares of both countries.”
The water level of the Euphrates River has decreased because of the dams Turkey has built and is still building, and Syria’s share of water has decreased from the amount previously agreed upon.
According to the agreement signed between Syria and Turkey in 1987 concerning the Euphrates water, Syria’s share of the water coming from Turkey is 500 cubic meters, or 2500 barrels, per second.
Among the most prominent and largest dams that Turkey built are Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River in Urfa governorate, and Ilısu Dam on the Tigris River.
“What Turkey is doing contradicts international laws that include each country’s share of the water and throws them out,” al-Jindi added.