On the water issue between Syria and Turkey
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/12/2000

The Turkish daily Daily News said in its Tuesday's issue that Ankara is sending cautious, yet positive signals to Damascus concerning the issue of water, at a time when Syria is voting for electing Bashar al-Assad as her President.

The paper quoted a high ranking Turkish official as saying in a statement " we want to reconsider the plan ( of three stages) which has been rejected by Baghdad and Damascus since years, so as ..'to give certain amounts of waters' and not to 'share' this water, besides Turkey is still defending her principle in that the waters of the two rivers ( the Tigris and the Euphrates ) are passing rivers and are not international waters."

The paper also quoted diplomats as saying that the joint committees on waters between Damascus and Ankara might be re-formed, but before anything, it is necessary to have an atmosphere on exchanged understanding, good will and patience between the two countries.

The Turkish paper indicated that the Syrian charge d'affairs in Ankara Saeed al-Bunni says that waters might be a case for cooperation instead of leading to wars in the future.

Al-Bunni added that the visit the new Syrian President will hold to Ankara will open the door before settling all problems.

The paper indicated the Turkish officials believe that a positive stage have started in the Turkish- Syrian relations after signing the Adanah agreement between the two countries.

The Daily News added that Syria had sent a message that it is waiting for an official invitation from Ankara for the visit of Bashar al-Assad, and that the Turkish officials say the visit of the Turkish President to Damascus to take part in the funeral of the late President Hafez al-Assad was the greatest positive signals that might be sent from the Turkish capital.

The Turkish paper centered on the fact that Turkish water resources are limited noting statements made by one Turkish official that a cautious policy should be pursued concerning water sales to a third country and making an assessment to the Turkish water resources.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi officials use Syria instead of Jordan for their trips   (7/6/2000)
  Syrian prime minister meets with Iraqi minister   (7/4/2000)
  Syria for developing relations with neighboring states   (7/3/2000)

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