MOWR: 3 highlighted points in the dialogues with Türkiye regarding water

INA - BAGHDAD

The Ministry of Water Resources confirmed the continuation of technical delegations' meetings with the Turkish side regarding water. While it confirmed that the dialogues deal with three basic points, it commented on the Turkish Foreign Minister's upcoming visit to Baghdad.

"Concerning negotiations with the Turkish side, technical and diplomatic delegations continue to negotiate, understand, discuss and exchange information and ideas," said the ministry's spokesman, Khalid Shmal, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "The issue of negotiating water has become a sovereign file since PM Muhammed Shia' Al-Sudani assumed the position, as he transferred it due to its importance from a technical diplomat to a sovereign file, and thus this file has been managed by the highest executive authority in the country."

"The president of the republic, PM, and the minister of water resources made several visits to the source countries, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, and contributed to moving files, especially the water file," he noted.

He pointed out that "70% of the water resources in Iraq come from its imports coming from neighboring countries, and these countries have implemented large projects, which affected the quantities of water reaching Iraq."

"The information indicates that there is an upcoming visit by the Turkish Foreign Minister to Iraq, and we expect that she will discuss the water file, especially since it is a top priority for the Iraqi government," he highlighted, adding "The discussion with Turkish officials raises three issues, including: first - securing appropriate, fair and sustainable water revenues without interruption or reduction in flows, second - agreeing on the principle of sharing benefit and harm in the file of water scarcity, and third - joint management of the Tigris and Euphrates basins through Exchanging information, participating in decision-making and coordinating in the field of research, training and development to enhance the file of water resources."