Parliament demand Maliki to urge Iran increase Iraqi water share

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Agriculture and Water parliamentary Committee called the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to negotiate with the Iranian officials, during his visit to Iran now, to increase Iraq’s share of water.

MP Etab Al-Dori, the registrar of the Committee said in a statement to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com) today “The Iraqi delegation participating in NAM Summit should approach the Iranian side on the issue of reducing share of Iraq from water resources coming from Iran which caused drying most of the Iraqi rivers, particularly Wind river and its consequent effects represented by economic losses.”

She added that “The closure of tributaries and water sources entering Iraqi territory from Iran caused great losses for the agricultural sector and animal wealth, as well as its contribution in increasing desertification.”

She stressed that “Reducing the share of Iraq from Wind River led to stop a lot of water pumping projects in Khanaqin district, in addition to damaging hundreds of acres of orchards and farmland,” noting that “The Iranian side did not respect the treaties and agreements signed with the Iraqi side since the forties and fifties of the last century, in addition to international conventions that guarantee 25% of Wind River water for of Iraq.”

She emphasized “Iran should hold the responsibility of its trespassing on waters shared with Iraq and pay compensation as a result of the damage and losses to the agricultural and animal wealth caused for Iraq.”

PM Nouri al-Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and a number of Iraqi officials are visiting Iran to participate in the NAM Summit that is currently held in Tehran.

The Minister of Trade Khairallah Babekir has announced earlier this month that “The ministry rejected to sign a trade agreement between Iraq and Iran unless Iran increases Iraqi share of waters from Wind River in Diyala province.