Syria’s AANES official denies Alouk Station agreement with Turkey
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, an official in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) denied reaching a final agreement with Turkish forces regarding the occupied Alouk water station, accusing the latter of “breaking the items of understanding.”
On Sunday, the Turkish Anadolu Agency said that an understanding was reached between Russian and the Turkish forces which included the provision of the Turkish-occupied Sere Kaniye region with electricity in return for the reoperation of Alouk station.
“The Turkish forces do not comply with the items of the understanding since the water has not reached Hasakah city yet,” co-chair of the Energy Office in the Jazira region Ziyad Rustem said.
On July 5, Rustem revealed the existence of indirect negotiations with Turkey under Russian auspices to restart the Alouk station in the countryside of Sere Kaniye.
The AANES has demanded the operation of 20 wells and four pumps in the Alouk station to ensure the arrival of water to Hasakah and its countryside, Rustem added.
“The water has not reached Hasakah because the Turkish forces operate two pumps only out of five agreed upon, though the AANES fulfilled all the items of the understanding,” Rustem referred.
“The Turkish forces ask for 25 megawatts of electricity from Tishreen Dam six hours a day, and eight megawatts from Derbasiya station 24 hours a day,” Rustem pointed out.
Turkish forces and their affiliated armed factions have shut down Alouk station 15 times since their invasion and occupation of Sere Kaniye in October 2019. The station is the main source of drinking water for nearly one million people in the towns of Tel Tamr, Hasakah, Shaddadi, Hawl, and rural areas and camps affiliated with these towns.
Rustem expressed his lack of optimism regarding the Turkish assumptions and considers the operation of Alouk station “necessary and cannot be disregarded.”