Turkey refuses to resume works of the tripartite committee

The Turkish television news channel NTF reported that a high-ranking Turkish official refused on Thursday an invitation extended by Iraqi Irrigation Minister Ahmad Diab to resume works of the tripartite technical committee concerning the water issue between Turkey, Iraq and Syria.

NTF quoted the Turkish official, who refused to be identified, as saying that Turkey sees that work of this committee, which has been frozen for three years, can be only resumed after settling security issues.

NTF added that the Turkish official's statements came following statements made by the Iraqi minister and following the meeting published on Wednesday with Syrian Information Minister Muhammad Salman, in which he said that it is time to discuss the water issue between sides concerned after security matters have been settled in the context of the Adanah agreement signed between the two sides.