An Iraqi delegation visits Turkey to discuss the repercussions of the water file 

Baghdad-INA 

The Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, announced today, Thursday, that he will visit Turkey soon to discuss the repercussions of the water file and the drought crisis.

The ministry stated, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "Dhiab received in his office the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Iraq, Muhammad Reza Konay, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss the bonds of joint cooperation between the two countries in all irrigation issues and fields, ensuring Iraq's water rights and the challenges facing the ministry's work as a result of the changes." climatic conditions and the lack of water imports entering Iraq, and the meeting was attended by the administrative undersecretary of the ministry, Raed Abdul Zaid Al-Jashami.

The statement added, "At the beginning of the meeting, the minister welcomed the guests, stressing that such important meetings are to consolidate the bonds of joint cooperation between the two neighboring countries, which were postponed as a result of the circumstances that Turkey went through, represented by the successive earthquakes that hit the country, calling for mercy for the martyrs and a speedy recovery for the injures.".

The minister explained, according to the statement, "the seriousness of the water situation in Iraq, which is going through harsh conditions of scarcity for four consecutive years that have not passed in the country since 1933," calling on the Turkish side to "share the damage with Iraq and activate the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in the field of water.

The discreet and experienced Turkish companies and specialists to provide Iraq with the latest technologies and modern technology to achieve optimal water management by reducing water losses and rationalizing water consumption, which the Ministry has sought to achieve in accordance with the directions of the Iraqi government, which has the water file as a priority in its work through the shift from open irrigation to pipe irrigation and lining Using the concrete quilting technique and the use of discreet international companies to study the possibility of exploiting the tap water in agriculture and reducing the percentage of salt concentrations in Basra Governorate.

He noted, "The ministry has a road map for drawing up its water policy, represented by the strategic study of water and land resources, which is prepared until the year 2035, and updated in accordance with the changes that occurred in the water reality in the country.".

Diab stressed "the need for serious cooperation to reach solutions and exchange visions and ideas and get out of the contraction in bilateral relations for openness, since the two countries have a close historical relationship," announcing "a close official visit to Turkey under his presidency to discuss the repercussions of the water file and the drought crisis.".

The minister also called on the media to "exercise caution in transmitting information, especially with regard to bilateral relations with the neighboring country Turkey, and to give baseless statistics and figures.".

For his part, Ambassador Kunay, according to the statement, thanked the Iraqi government and its role in extending a helping hand and assistance to the Turkish government in its ordeal as a result of the recent tremors, presenting to the minister a letter of thanks from his Turkish counterpart, the Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, for consoling the Turkish people and standing by their country as a result of the recent events represented in the earthquakes that hit the country.