Iraqi request to increase water releases from Syria

INA – Baghdad
 
Minister of Water Resources, Mahdi Rashid Al-Hamdani, asked Syria to increase water releases.
 
"Minister of Water Resources held a closed-circuit televised meeting with the Syrian Minister of Water Resources, Tammam Raad, to review the measures taken regarding the signed record during Al-Hamdani's visit to Syria," according to a statement by the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
Al-Hamdani indicated that the Syria agreed to attend the joint meetings between Iraq, Syria and Turkey, adding that "the Syrian side's agreement is a development in the field of joint cooperation in the water file,"
 
The ministry asked the Syrian side to increase releases of water to compensate the shortfall in revenues as a result of the lack of rainfall and high temperatures, in order to share the damage between the two sides, Al-Hamadni noted, adding that "the meeting emphasized the need to continue coordination and joint cooperation with regard to training, studies and exchange of experience,"
 
He stressed that "Syria will participate in the research center to be established in Iraq,"