Iraq calls on Turkey to join water talks
Iraq-Syria, Politics, 10/23/1997

Iraq has renewed its call to Ankara to sit down at the negotiation table with both Iraq and Syria to reach a settlement in the dispute over the distribution of Euphrates and Tigris waters.

An Iraqi official said that Iraq and Syria would be ready to make a tripartite agreement dividing Euphrates and Tigris waters between the three countries, only Turkey has yet to show its good-will.

The Iraqi official expressed his country's great regret over Turkey's refusal to join Syria and Iraq in the talks they opened in Damascus yesterday. But he said the Turkey still had the choice to join them now.

Iraqi and Syrian delegations have been exchanging views and information hoping to find the best means of securing their internationally legitimate rights to the waters of the two rivers. The two sides are studying forming professional teams to periodically to gauge the water levels, and to exchange information regarding current and future projects. It is expected that the Iraqi side will brief the Syrian side on the results of the conference of the "World's Water--Financing Future Projects," which was held last month in Istanbul, and which was not attended by Syria.

Syrian Foreign Minster Farouk Al Shara'a sent a message to Turkey in which he offered to hold talks on a new basis without any preconditions.

Al Sharaa said that it is unfortunate that the two sides did not meet during the past two years but the Syrian side was not responsible for this condition. He added that Syria does not set any preconditions on holding talks with the Turkish side and that when the two countries will meet, they will discuss all issues.

Al Sharaa stressed the call of the Syrian President Hafez Al Assad in Cairo last month to hold talks with Turkey. He said that Syria is waiting for Turkey's answer .

Previous Stories:
  Iraq sends critical memo regarding Turkish allegations   (10/14/1997)
  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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