Iraq: close to signing an agreement with Turkey on Water

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated today that a memorandum of understanding will soon be signed with the Turkish side concerning the management of water in Iraq. He indicated that Turkey will release more water toward Iraq within 50 days.

In press statements, the Iraqi minister added that he led a large delegation to Turkey, where the core topic was "water." He noted that the delegation included the Minister of Water Resources and water experts.

He continued that they held meetings with Turkish officials and discussed the water file, stressing that Iraq faced a dry year. He mentioned that drought also affected Syria and Turkey, but Turkey built dams to store water and can assist Iraq. Regarding this, understandings were reached to release water toward the Euphrates and another portion toward the Tigris for a period of 50 days.

He pointed out that Turkish companies will manage water in Iraq and that a memorandum of understanding will be signed. He said they expect a visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Iraq to sign the agreement.

Regarding the memorandum, Hussein clarified that it concerns water management and how to implement it, with Turkish companies undertaking this work, in addition to building more dams within Iraq to collect water and reuse it in agriculture and other sectors.

For years, Turkey has reduced the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Iraq and Syria, violating the water agreement between these countries, which stipulates a legal share of no less than 500 cubic meters per second for both Iraq and Syria. This has led to the drying of rivers and affected vital sectors in both countries.

Turkey has also used the water issue as a political pressure tool on the Iraqi and Syrian governments in recent years to achieve its goals and ambitions in the two countries.

ANHA