Iraq Proposes Water Crisis Resolution with Turkey and Iran, 3 OCT

 Iraq Proposes Water Crisis Resolution with Turkey and Iran, 3 OCT

On March 24, Iraq became the first Middle Eastern country to join the United Nations Water Conference, a global initiative aiming to foster cooperation over shared water resources. This move was announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani at the United Nation’s first significant conference on water since the 1970s. Only two days prior, he had visited Ankara to request a greater release of water downstream to alleviate increasing water insecurity in Iraq—a request that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged to fulfill.

Water Crisis in the Middle East

These developments follow weeks of violent clashes between protestors and security forces in southern Iraq’s Dhi Qar governorate over the escalating water crisis. However, protestors in Dhi Qar did not blame Turkey for their water woes; instead, they pointed the finger at the Iraqi government. The negotiations between Turkey and Iraq over water were far from coincidental. For over seventy-five years, diplomats have been striving to prevent international water disputes from inciting cross-border violence. Now, they are aiming to use international water agreements to prevent violence within national borders—a task that is becoming increasingly challenging.

States that fail to address water management within their borders often attribute their water problems to external factors, be it upstream neighbors or climate change. For years, downstream governments in the Middle East and North Africa have accused their neighbors of taking more than their fair share of water. These complaints have only intensified as the effects of climate change and decades of mismanagement have further reduced the available water share.

Blame Game Over Water Resources

In December 2021, amidst a prolonged drought, the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources threatened to sue Iran in international court over its water policies. Iraq accused Iran of digging tunnels to divert water away from Iraq. In response, Iran blamed Iraq’s water woes on Turkey, alleging that Ankara’s water policy was causing the dust storms that disrupt Iraq and Iran. Meanwhile, Turkey accused both Iranian and Iraqi politicians of scapegoating Ankara to shift the blame away from their own mismanagement of water resources.

Proposed Agreement with Turkey and Iran

Despite the difficulties, the official government spokesperson, Basem Al Awadi, recently expressed Iraq’s intent to establish an agreement with Turkey and Iran to address the water crisis. He conveyed this message during a call for a discreet and constructive dialogue with Turkey, assuring the nation that the current water crisis would not repeat itself. He revealed that ongoing negotiations were being conducted by Iraqi delegations, including technical experts from the Ministries of Water Resources and Foreign Affairs.

Al Awadi also disclosed a series of messages exchanged between the two countries to strengthen diplomatic ties, including visits from ministerial and official delegations. He underscored the indispensable nature of water resources for both Iraq and Turkey and stressed the need for extensive deliberations and measured discussions to forge satisfactory solutions that accommodate the interests of both parties through mutual understanding and dialogue.

A Hope for Enduring Solutions

Al Awadi expressed optimism, stating his belief that the ongoing crisis is a temporary setback and will soon pave the way for enduring solutions, thereby averting future recurrences. He emphasized that the water crisis remains a top priority for the government and the Prime Minister and affirmed that the government is resolute in upholding citizens’ rights and interests, committing to fulfill this duty within the boundaries of legality and constitutionality.

While the specific details of the proposed agreement are not yet revealed, suggesting that negotiations are still in the preliminary stages, this anticipated collaboration represents a significant step in regional diplomacy and mutual cooperation. It also reflects the escalating urgency of environmental issues, particularly water scarcity, and the need for collective action to resolve such problems.