Neighbors’ water policies harm Iraq – specialists

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Water policies of Iraq’s neighbors have been damaging the country, experts said on Wednesday, stressing the necessity of employing advanced techniques to minimize losses in water consumption, in addition to signing treaties with those neighbors to preserve mutual interests regarding water. Dr. Mahmod Ali al-Dawod, Head of al-Mustansiriya Center for Studies, in a speech addressed to a symposium arranged by his center to discuss water resources in Iraq, said that water scarcity jeopardizes food production. “Turkey’s insistence to proceed with water projects despite the Iraqi-Syrian objections violates laws and principles that arrange how to use mutual rivers,” Dawod explained. “Iraq is in need to employ new scientific methods in irrigation and to rely on highly qualified scientists,” he added. Head of the Center’s Geography Department, Qassim Shakir al-Falahi, told IraqiNews.com news agency, “The two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates are international, and the international law should be the frame of reference to solve any conflicts over them.” “Concerning the Tigris and Euphrates, Iraq can claim rights and interests according to the Lausanne treaty,” he explained. Dr. Ahmed Omar al-Rawi, a researcher, elaborated that policies of the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iran and Syria “have affected the future of water resources in Iraq through both consumption and pollution.” “Neighboring countries did not respect Iraq’s partnership in the Tigris and Euphrates,” he said. “Currently, water in the Euphrates is 50 percent less than its regular level,” he proceeded. “Iran’s water policies are less dangerous for Iraq compared to that of Turkey, despite the fact that Iran had established water projects without consulting Iraq,” he pointed out. “Political differences with Syria affected the quantity and quality of water coming from the Syrian Arab Republic to Iraq,” he noted. Al-Rawi stressed that a strategy should be adopted to organize water consumption and to sign treaties with neighboring countries regarding joint rivers. “The water situation in Iraq is critical, especially that there will be an increase in the country’s population,” he said, adding “Water is essential not only for people’s consumption but also for agriculture.” MH (S)/AmR 1