أثر المياه على الخلاف بين تركيا ودول الجوار العربي
1980-1990
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65074/xebv1k64Keywords:
Dispute, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, WaterAbstract
The research addresses "The Impact of Water on the Dispute Between Turkey and the Arab Neighboring Countries (1980–1990)". The water issue is considered one of the most serious problems between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, as it directly affected the lives of the people. This dispute greatly influenced relations among these countries during that period, especially since its roots go back to historical tensions that Syria and Iraq had long suffered from. Both states failed to reach an agreement with Turkey over water, and the conflict persisted over time.
Attempts were made in the early 1980s to resolve the crisis through an economic and technical cooperation protocol between Iraq and Syria, later joined by Syria. The protocol aimed to establish a framework for water control and create a technical committee to study the Tigris and Euphrates basins and propose solutions. However, Turkey pursued expansion in dam and project construction on both rivers, disregarding the harm caused to Iraq and Syria. Evidence of this is the failure of the joint technical committee among Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, which produced no tangible results.
Turkey’s perspective on the water issue was that usage should be fair, optimal, and reasonable, rather than allowing the rivers’ waters to flow into the Shatt al-Arab without proper utilization. Turkey proposed a three-stage plan to determine Syria’s and Iraq’s water needs, arguing that it was unreasonable for them to demand a share of Turkey’s waters. Turkey considered the Tigris and Euphrates to be Turkish rivers, not subject to division with other states.
The massive projects and dams constructed or planned by Turkey created mistrust in Iraq and Syria regarding Turkey’s seriousness in resolving the dispute. Turkey justified these projects as measures to reduce flood risks and provide regular water supplies to neighboring Arab states. However, Iraq and Syria believed the projects would drastically reduce their water shares, shrink agricultural lands, increase salinity and pollution, and force many farmers to abandon their lands.
A final attempt was made through a protocol signed between Turkey and Syria in 1987, without inviting Iraq to participate. Turkey insisted on equal water shares for Syria and Iraq, but Iraq rejected this and expressed regret at not being included. Ultimately, the protocol failed, and no solution satisfactory to all parties was reached.
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