Baghdad seeks ‘fair and equitable’ water rights agreement with Ankara
Iraq and Turkey are working to reach an agreement in a dispute over water rights, Iraq’s Water Resources Ministry said yesterday.
Iraq seeks a “fair and equitable” share of water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which account for more than 90 per cent of the country’s fresh supply, the ministry said.
Both rivers originate in Turkey, while the Tigris is also fed by several tributaries from Iran.
Turkey has built several dams on the rivers, while Iran has diverted tributaries to its land.
For decades, Iraq has failed to convince either country to ensure it gets a fair share of water.
Both argue that they also face water scarcity and that Iraq uses outdated irrigation methods.
“We have been in lengthy discussions for years to reach a bilateral agreement, but unfortunately we have not reached a bilateral deal with Turkey,” Water Resources Minister Aoun Abdullah said.
“Now, the government’s intention is clear and serious with the aim to reach a comprehensive and complete agreement with Turkey that covers all aspects.
“There are big interests, there is a trade exchange, there are economic interests, including the Development Road, and there are security matters.
“All will be put in one basket in which the water is the priority.
It is dangerous to be lenient on this matter”.
Mr Abdullah hailed talks with Tehran, which this year led to the release of water to the Darbandikhan dam in Iraq’s Diyala province and from the Karun river to Basra in the south.
The Tigris’s water flows exceed 600 cubic metres per second, thanks to recent rains in the north and the release of water from one of Turkey’s dams for power generation, he said.
The flows in the Tigris are “at good levels” and are increasing the water reserves at dams that had been limited, he said.
“Now, what is flowing to the reservoir of Mosul Dam is more than what is released, and that will build up good water reserves,” Mr Abdullah added.
But flows in the Euphrates are “still modest” with no more than 220 cubic metres per second, he said, adding that the issue was partially political, linked to Turkey’s stance towards the Syrian government and Kurdish opposition.
Turkey is one of Iraq’s main trade partners, with trade between the two countries having exceeded $24 billion last year.
Iraq previously exported 500,000 barrels of oil a day to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. However, the exports were halted in March amid a legal battle between Baghdad and Ankara.
Iraq has suffered severe environmental degradation and water scarcity as a result of climate change, alarming levels of pollution and mismanagement.
The country is experiencing is worst drought in decades, with temperatures above 50°C last summer. Many of Iraq’s lakes have shrunk.
The country is ranked the fifth most vulnerable in the world to climate change by the UN Environment Programme.