Iraqi President seeks fair water solution with neighboring states
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, stressed that Iraq is seeking to reach “a fair and comprehensive solution” for water resources with the upstream countries.
The Iraqi president talked to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) two days after the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources warned that the Euphrates River would dry up if Turkey continues its current water policy.
Rashid said water is a “very important” global issue as every country in the world needs more amounts of it.
He noted that there are other factors apart from the projects of neighboring countries, which are “climate changes which affect the amount of water in any country, the increase in population, and the use of water by people.”
He renewed his request from upstream countries to give Iraq’s fair share of water.
Iraq witnesses a water crisis, as water in both the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers reduced to concerning levels since the Iraqi population significantly relies on farming and animal resources.
On March 3, Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, said, “Water supply in Iraq has become scarce because Turkey did not release the amount of 600 cubic meters per second due to Iraq.”
As for the Tigris River, the minister said, “Agreement on specific numbers was not reached with Turkey on Iraq’s quotas of river water. An agreement was signed with Turkish President Erdogan that Turkey would provide Iraq with a reasonable amount of water, but unfortunately the quantity was not agreed upon.”
The decline in water levels of the two rivers raises controversy especially at this time of the year as snow melts in the spring.