Syria, Iraq to enhance relations of cooperation in water resources

Syrian-Iraqi joint cooperation in field of water resources and means of developing this cooperation and coordination to serve interests of the two states were discussed on Friday during the Syrian-Iraqi ministerial meeting.

Both sides also discussed finding a formula for exchanging of hydrological information, climatic data and operation plans on concerned rivers particularly on Euphrates river as well as reviving the Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish joint committee.

Topics on activation of water information center, exchange of information pertaining to water legislation and modern techniques in operations of water monitoring were also reviewed.

During the meeting the Syrian and Iraqi sides also reviewed increasing the electric current generated form al-Qadesia dam in June, July, August and September without affecting level of water in the dams in addition to supplying Syria with water from Tigris River to irrigate 150,000 hectare in Qamishly.

The meeting co-chaired by Irrigation Minister Nader al-Boni, Iraqi Ministers of Water Resources, Abdul Latif Rashid and of Electricity Muhsen Shalash.

In a statement to reporters following the meeting, al-Boni stressed the irrigation ministry's endeavors for reviving the Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish joint committee.

"Syrian-Iraqi relations are on track again and they are in a continuous improvement," Al-Boni said.

For his part, Rashid added that there is a consent from the Syrian, Iraqi and Turkish sides to revive the joint committee, expressing hope that the committee would study finding best ways for exploiting water resources.

"There is a common interest between Iraqi Ministries of water resources and electricity because the increase of water in July in al-Qadesia dam will positively reflect on generation of electricity," Shalash emphasized.