’Turkey wants to use water to build peace’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 24, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkey wants to use water resources to build peace rather than allowing them to become a source of tension, the environment minister said in an interview published yesterday.
Minister of Environment and Forestry Veysel Eroğlu told the Journal of Turkish Weekly that Turkey has been increasing its cooperation with Syria and Iraq over the shared Euphrates-Tigris river basin, with technical experts from the three countries meeting to exchange information and expertise.
One project currently in the works is cooperation between Turkey and Syria to build a dam on the Asi River, which originates in Syria and has an annual water flow of 2.5 billion cubic meters. Eroğlu said the dam would be called the "Asi Friendship Dam."
"The Syrian side was initially worried about floods and some irrigated land that may be flooded after the dam is built," Eroğlu said. "We offered them solutions and helped them build an early-warning system to prevent flooding. Both countries will benefit from the dam it in terms of recreation, fishing, electricity generation and irrigation."
"Ministries from both sides have signed a protocol to complete preparatory works for building the dam," he said. "If we can finish the mapping and feasibility studies this year, construction will begin next year."
When asked about reports that the Palestinian authority had requested to import water from Turkey, Eroğlu said officials from both countries would hold talks soon, adding that it was possible to transport water to the Palestinian territories by tanker. Eroğlu said Turkey was ready to sell water to Israel as well if the country made such a request.
In regards to a dam planned for the Meriç River, which is shared by Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece, the minister said Bulgaria was prolonging the process.
One project currently in the works is cooperation between Turkey and Syria to build a dam on the Asi River, which originates in Syria and has an annual water flow of 2.5 billion cubic meters. Eroğlu said the dam would be called the "Asi Friendship Dam."
"The Syrian side was initially worried about floods and some irrigated land that may be flooded after the dam is built," Eroğlu said. "We offered them solutions and helped them build an early-warning system to prevent flooding. Both countries will benefit from the dam it in terms of recreation, fishing, electricity generation and irrigation."
"Ministries from both sides have signed a protocol to complete preparatory works for building the dam," he said. "If we can finish the mapping and feasibility studies this year, construction will begin next year."
When asked about reports that the Palestinian authority had requested to import water from Turkey, Eroğlu said officials from both countries would hold talks soon, adding that it was possible to transport water to the Palestinian territories by tanker. Eroğlu said Turkey was ready to sell water to Israel as well if the country made such a request.
In regards to a dam planned for the Meriç River, which is shared by Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece, the minister said Bulgaria was prolonging the process.