Iraqi MP calls on government to pressure Turkey in "water war"

Representative Mansour Al-Baiji, a member of the Agriculture and Water Committee in the Iraqi parliament, said in a statement that the Baghdad government should use the economic file to pressure the countries of water sources to increase Iraq’s water share, describing the matter as a "water war."

28 May, 2020 09:14

NEWS DESK

Mansour Al-Baiji called on Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to use all available means, especially economic tools, to put pressure on Turkey in the water file.

Al-Baiji appealed to the Iraqi authorities not to take a stand as a result of what is happening as a result of the "water war" that Iraq has been subjected to for a long time from upstream countries.

Al-Baiji added: "Iraq’s water share should increase by upstream countries, because the water war is no less dangerous than the war against ISIS mercenaries, and because it will destroy agriculture in our country, especially after the oil prices drop due to the Corona pandemic."

The parliamentarian considered that the diversification of the state's revenue sources depends on several sectors, including the agricultural sector, so the government must act quickly against Turkey to ensure an increase in Iraq's water share.

Turkey started several days ago to fill the reservoir of the Ilisu Dam, which Ankara began to build in 2016 on the border with Iraq.

In practice, this will reduce the amount of water that reaches Iraq, which is already small, according to the Iraqis.

Besides the Euphrates, the Tigris River is the lifeline of many Iraqis, as the rivers feed water stations, and their water is used for irrigation.

J.O