Syria, Jordan sign al-Yarmouk river water agreement

The report of the joint Syrian-Jordanian Committee on water was signed on Monday by Syrian Deputy Minister of Irrigation Barakat Hadid and the Jordanian side was led by the secretary general of the Jordanian Valley Authority, Dureid Mahasneh, SANA reported.

The committee discussed the cost of the al-Yarmouk Dam project in light of a new study presented by the Jordanian side, according to the 1998 price scale. The cost is estimated at US $300 million.

Following the signing ceremony, the Syrian minister said "As a joint committee we are careful about various steps that should be implemented, especially the project's feasibility study. He stressed the importance of setting up the dam at the Jordanian side of al-Yarmouk river as soon as possible and to find 'suitable financing'."

Mahasneh expressed hope that there will be full cooperation and coordination between the "two sisterly countries in the process of saving Jordan's water and Syria and Jordan's electrical energy."

Mahasneh said the Syrian side briefed the Jordanian side of its intention to set up a water filtration station in Daraa province and its surroundings. This means that by the time such a project is completed, no more pollutants will be in the river.

Mahasneh said "Syria has showed its readiness through its representatives at the joint water committee to reduce costs ... if Syrian public sector companies take part in the construction process."

Mahasneh expected the construction works will start in the project by the year 2000 after searching and securing financing in 1999.