Ankara refuses to revive water committee
Syria-Turkey, Economics, 8/27/1998

An official at the Turkish foreign ministry has announced that Turkey refused a request proposed by Damascus to revive the Turkish, Syrian, Iraqi committee on water issues, which have net met since 1992.

The Turkish official added that it is early to talk about reviving the activity of this committee, noting this is not possible in the near future. He told the Turkish Anatolia news agency that Turkey has kept its promise in delivering 500 cubic meters of water per second. He went on to explain according to figures recorded in the three last years Syria received 900 cubic meters per second.

Meantime, the Turkish daily "daily news" said that Turkey links reaching a settlement in the case of partitioning water to Damascus stand in supporting the Turkish separatist Kurdistani Labor Party (PKK).

When asked about Iraq's threatens to resort to international court, if Ankara proceeds in its water policies and in building dams on the Euphrates river, the Turkish official recalled that Turkey refrained from signing the UN agreement of 1997 in using "international water passages for other purposes excluding communications."

However, Syria and Iraq seek to reach a final agreement on partitioning waters. A matter which is categorically refused by Turkey, claiming the "best and logical" use of water should be based on scientific basis.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian minister addresses relations with Egypt, Turkey   (7/30/1998)
  Iraq accuses Turkey of the procrastination concerning Euphrates water   (6/23/1998)
  Syrian-Iraqi meeting is first development after Gulf War   (10/7/1997)

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