MOWAR: There is a semi-commitment by Turkey to Iraq's water share

Baghdad - INA

The Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, confirmed today, Wednesday, that the percentage of water releases from Turkey and Iran reaches 70 percent, while indicating that there is a quasi-commitment by Turkey to Iraq's water share.

Dhiab said in a dialogue session during the Iraq Energy Conference, attended by the correspondent of the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The culture of the citizen must be changed towards rationalizing water because we are facing a clear challenge," indicating that "the administrations in local governments must focus on the culture of the people and the mechanism for investing water."

He added that "the most important consumer of water is agriculture, and the use of water in agriculture must be changed," noting that "the Prime Minister's directive to use modern irrigation methods is very important."

He stated that "the Ministry of Agriculture has begun using spraying techniques in agriculture and using wells," warning of "the danger of depleting groundwater."

He explained that "the reason for the advance of the salt tongue in the Shatt al-Arab is the lack of resources, as the quantities of water that reach the Shatt al-Arab are small," noting that "the water releases from Turkey and Iran reach 70 percent, and there is a semi-commitment by Turkey to Iraq's water share."