Iraq sends critical memo regarding Turkish allegations
Fertile Crescent Region, Politics, 10/14/1997

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry sent a memo to the Arab League in which it refuted many of the allegations made by Turkish President Soliman Demirel while he was in Cairo. The allegations mainly focused on the crisis of water in the region, especially the water coming from the Euphrates and Digla rivers.

In its memo, Iraq tried to clarify many of the false statements by the Turkish President. Iraq highlighted the importance of the water of the two rivers to Iraq as those waters enabled the creation of ancient civilizations, and accused Turkey of trying to prevent Syria and Iraq from benefiting from this water.

The memo was divided into two parts. The first dealt with the Iraqi stance toward this problem. The second dealt with the Turkish measures to deprive its neighbors from getting enough water from the two rivers.

It highlighted the fact that the two rivers are international waters according to international laws and customs, and that no country is entitled to claim sole possession of them. Iraq stressed the need for accelerating the negotiations to determine each country's share of the water.

The second part of the memo concentrated on the Turkish stance regarding this problem in which Iraq clarified how Turkey does not accept the historical right of all countries to water from the two rivers. Turkey concentrates on using the water while ignoring the need to determine each country's share of the water.

Iraq accused Turkey of declaring that although the water of the two rivers passes through several countries, this does not mean that they are international rivers, thus granting itself the right to use the water the way it likes, ignoring the rights of the neighboring countries (Syria and Iraq).

Iraq also accused Turkey of evading direct negotiations to discuss this problem till it finishes constructing its dams and water projects. This is in addition to the fact that Turkey did not abide by any of the agreements it signed before, according to the memo.

The memo stated that although the Turkish president said in Cairo that Turkey will not let its neighbors be affected by its water projects, the truth is that its neighboring countries face severe shortage of water due to these projects.

The memo added that 50% of the water needed by the Arab world comes from outside areas and if each country claims its sole possession of the water, all countries will face great problems in the future.

At the end of the memo Iraq called on the international community and the Arab League to stop the Turkish attempts to deprive its neighbors from the water of the two rivers.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian to Jordan: You will bear a heavy price if you play with dam   (10/9/1997)
  Syria to divert Euphrates   (10/2/1997)
  Recent study sees military action on Syrian-Turkish water issue impossible   (9/6/1997)

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