Baghdad, Iraq – The energy conference held in Baghdad on Thursday witnessed a diplomatic and technical debate regarding transboundary water issues. The Turkish ambassador revealed a “slowness” in implementing financing mechanisms. Meanwhile, the Iraqi side reiterated its concerns about the lack of binding agreements for sharing water quotas.
Ankara: We are not just a source country and projects are facing “slow progress”
The Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad, Anil Boran, affirmed that the sustainable use of water resources is in the interest of both upstream and downstream countries, noting that Turkey considers itself a “riparian state” in both directions, not merely an upstream state. Boran stressed the need for the swift implementation of projects discussed with the Iraqi side for over a year and a half, particularly those related to improving water infrastructure. The Turkish Ambassador also expressed his hope for overcoming the “slow progress” in ratifying the financing mechanism previously signed between President Erdoğan and the Sudanese Prime Minister, with the aim of commencing actual implementation.
Baghdad: We are facing the worst water crisis and there are no binding agreements.
For his part, Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Awn Dhiab, clarified the nature of cooperation with Ankara. He explained that the signed strategic agreement is a “framework agreement,” not an international treaty establishing specific water quotas or water sharing. Dhiab also emphasized that Iraq is currently facing its “worst water crisis” as a result of climate change and the exploitation of water resources by upstream countries. He pointed out to Parliament and at the conference the absence of any Turkish commitment to fixed quotas. The minister added that the water crisis is not limited to Iraq alone but affects the entire region. He also confirmed that the framework agreement does not include Iraq’s participation in formulating binding quotas. This debate comes two months after Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw the signing ceremony of the implementation mechanism for the framework cooperation agreement between the two countries’ foreign ministers. These efforts aim to address the drought crisis plaguing Mesopotamia, amidst clear differences of opinion on how to manage this “scarce and precious” resource.
