Iraq has ten years of water security from Turkey: Ministry
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq has secured its water rights from Turkey for a decade and is improving water flow through better management and the removal of encroachments, the Iraqi water resources ministry said on Wednesday.
"The framework agreement signed between Iraq and Turkey secured Iraq's water rights for the next ten years," ministry spokesperson Khalid Shamal told state media.
He noted that water negotiations have witnessed a 'significant shift', with the issue now classified as a 'sovereign matter under the direct supervision of the [Iraqi] prime minister'.
In April 2024, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a multi-billion-dollar strategic water agreement. Sudani stated at the time that the pact includes joint projects to improve water management on the Tigris and Euphrates, and it will remain valid for 10 years from implementation.
According to Shamal, the agreement encompasses joint management of the Tigris-Euphrates basin, exchange of information and databases for the management of irrigation projects, and investments by Turkish companies in coordination with the Iraqi authorities.
He said that negotiations with Turkey are ongoing within the framework of this agreement.
'The water situation in Iraq is stable,' he added, noting that they have kicked off a 'comprehensive national campaign' to remove encroachments that 'has resulted in an additional 80 cubic meters per second of water availability.'
The campaign includes removing encroachments on riverbanks, shores, and unauthorized fish farms, according to Shamal.
The Iraqi government has also launched a package of investment projects in the water resources sector, including three land reclamation projects and the construction of three water-harvesting dams in Nineveh, Muthanna, and between Karbala and Anbar provinces, Shamal said.
In late February, Torhan al-Mufti, advisor to the Iraqi prime minister on water, told Rudaw that Iraq is among the top 15 most impacted countries globally by climate change. He also highlighted that Baghdad 'lacks a clear agreement with neighboring countries,' namely Iran and Turkey, 'regarding water distribution.'
Iraq's water mainly comes from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, with 75 percent flowing downstream from neighboring Iran and Turkey, and 20 to 25 percent from internal sources. While Iran affects water flow through rivers like the Karun and Karkheh, Turkey controls the headwaters via large dams upstream.
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