Iraq-Turkey sign agreement to regulate water management between two countries

During a joint press conference in Baghdad with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Minister Hussein revealed that both sides intend to formalize their understandings on water cooperation.

He stated: “We discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them. These ties are deep-rooted, based on history, geography, shared interests, and economic and trade cooperation across multiple fields.”

Hussein added that Minister Fidan’s visit to Baghdad, accompanied by a senior delegation, was aimed at addressing a matter of great importance to both nations and their citizens the issue of water resources.

“We previously held extensive meetings in Ankara, where we reached understandings that have now been translated into a formal document,” he said.

According to Hussein, the agreement concerns the management of the water file between Iraq and Turkey and is expected to be signed within a few hours, marking the first such document in the history of relations between the two countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in the Iraqi capital earlier in the day for an official visit.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions would focus on enhancing cooperation in political, economic, security, and water-related fields, including key topics such as the Development Road Project linking Turkey and Iraq, joint river management, regional security, and counterterrorism.

For years, Turkey has reduced the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers into Iraq and Syria, violating previous water agreements that stipulate a minimum legal quota of 500 cubic meters per second for each of the two downstream countries.
This reduction has led to the drying of rivers and severe damage to vital sectors in both Iraq and Syria.

Moreover, Turkey has used the water issue as a political pressure tool against both governments in Baghdad and Damascus in recent years, seeking to advance its own strategic interests and objectives in the region.

ANHA