Iraq and Turkey agree on the Protocol of the Tigris River

Baghdad-INA

 
Iraq and Turkey agreed to resolve all inquiries regarding the Tigris River Protocol and to establish a joint research center for water.
 
A statement by the Ministry of Water Resources, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "technical discussions continued for the second day in a row, headed by the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Water Affairs Mahdi Rashid Al-Hamdani, Minister of Water Resources and  the Special Envoy of the Turkish President for Water Affairs, Faisal Aroglu, as all  the inquiries were resolved from The Turkish side on the Tigris River Protocol, and the final amended version will be sent during the next little period for the purpose of final presentation and signing it.

The statement added, "It was also agreed to establish joint research center, in Baghdad to be the start of a new era in the Iraqi-Turkish bilateral relations in the field of water," noting that "the center will constitute a mainstay for Iraqi and Turkish experts to exchange information." And to present joint studies that would enhance and develop the water management of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers".
 
The statement continued, "The joint memorandum of understanding between the two countries, which is in the process of ratification by the President of the Turkish Republic, was discussed after it was ratified by the Turkish Parliament to start implementing its provisions, and it was agreed to send specialized teams from Iraq in the field of surface and ground water to discuss the water file ,visit  the Turkish  dams and the most important water projects related to groundwater and also visit wastewater reuse projects according to the modern technologies.
 Al-Hamdani, according to the statement, invited Faisal Oroglu to visit Iraq's most important water facilities and projects in the coming period.