MOWR: Activating the work of the Measuring Stations team with Syria

INA - BAGHDAD

The Ministry of Water Resources - MOWR discussed on Monday, activating the work of the “Measuring Stations” team with the Syrian side.

“A virtual meeting was held at the ministry’s headquarters with the Syrian side. It was chaired by the Iraqi side, the Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Dhiyab Abdullah, and the Syrian side was represented by Hussein Makhlouf, the Minister of Water Resources of the Syrian Republic,” according to a statement from the ministry - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

Dhiab conveyed the Prime Minister's greetings to the Syrian government, "the water file in Iraq receives direct attention from the highest authorities," he added, explaining the historical depth between the two countries.

The meeting included a review of the water situation between the two countries in accordance with international agreements and statements related to the implementation of obligations under those agreements signed between the two countries, in addition to discussing the mechanism for activating the work of the measuring stations team formed with the Syrian side.

The statement included, "The two sides agreed to set a date for the team to conduct field visits to joint measuring stations and exchange experiences between the two countries through continued training of staff in several specialties. This includes the groundwater investment mechanism, legal legislation, closed pipe irrigation, and conducting field visits to gain experience that would develop the irrigation system between both countries."

The two sides also agreed to "continue exchanging data and information, holding in-person or virtual ministerial and technical meetings, and to focus on the cooperation mechanism in the field of confronting the impact of climate change on the irrigation reality between the two countries."

In turn, the Syrian minister affirmed his government's support and cooperation with the Iraqi people and welcomed "any initiative that would develop the water sector in the country."