Minister of Resources: We set priorities to address 3 files to secure water quotas

Baghdad-INA 

Minster of Water Resources Aoun Diab revealed Iraq's intention to renegotiate with Turkey and Iran to secure water quotas.

Diab told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the ministerial curriculum stressed very vital points related to the management of water resources, foremost of which is the equitable and distribution of water, as well as the development of irrigation projects, and their rehabilitation with advanced modern methods away from traditional methods, in addition to focusing on the Ensuring water quotas in the southern region to secure the needs of drinking water, agriculture and environmental needs," noting that "the southern regions have been subjected to repeated drought years ." 

He added, "The Ministry is working to confront drought in those areas, and we are working on that through a series of measures," noting that "the Ministry of Resources has priorities in the file of facing drought in the south and also pays attention to the file of addressing the problem of salinity in the Shatt al-Arab, a problem that has been going on for years. long and this file we have given first priority .” 

Diab continued, "There is a weakness in water security in the marsh areas due to abuses and water scarcity, and there is work to be done in this direction, and we hope to bring about an improvement in the reality of the marshes this year ."

On Iraq's water quotas, the Minister of Resources stressed that "there is a tendency to renegotiate with upstream countries Turkey and Iran, and to hold serious meetings with specialists in the two countries to secure Iraq's quotas in accordance with international agreements and norms, considering that Iraq suffers from a severe water shortage ."   

He added, "The ministry has sent a message to the Turkish side, and there are promises to secure contact with the representative of the Turkish President for Water Affairs Veseloglu to lay the foundations for concluding a new water agreement, and we will give this issue special attention ."