Al-Thawra: Syrian- Turkish talks on irrigation and sharing of water

The Turkish Minister of State Mustafa Yalmaz who on Sunday started a visit to Damascus, with the Syrian Minister of Irrigation Ridwan Martini related to implementing irrigation projects and sharing of waters between the two countries.

In its Sunday's issue., the Syrian daily al-Thawra said the talks will deal with "exchanging expertise in the area of water administration and implementing irrigation projects" during the visit which will last for several days.

The paper added the talks constitute a prelude to new joint cooperation programs between the two sides that are conducive to have a fair division and sharing among the three countries which share the Euphrates river ( Syria, Turkey, Iraq), noting that the "talks will prepare for reopening the file of water between the two sides." Worthy mentioning that sharing the water of the Euphrates which springs from Turkey and crosses Syria and Iraq constitute a point of difference between the three countries. Both Syria and Iraq consider the southern Anadolia project ( al-Ghab) to build dams for generating electricity in Turkey on the Euphrates river will decrease water level in the river, while Ankara says this project regulates water level of the Euphrates.