Despite Protests, Turkey Says It Can't Increase Water Flows To Syria & Iraq - AFP

[hatrack]

Syria, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Thursday as officials from the three neighbours met here to discuss the sharing of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Ankara talks follow Iraqi accusations last month that Turkey was holding back water despite a promise to increase the flow into its drought-stricken southern neighbour. "We are aware of the need for water in our neighbours...but we do not have a lot of it in the reservoirs of our dams," Yildiz told reporters ahead of the meeting.

Turkey has increased the flow to 517 cubic meters per second (18,095 cubic feet per second) from the average 500 m3/second, the minister said. "To be honest, it is not possible for us to increase this further. We cannot allow our own water and energy management to run into problems."

The talks were also attended by Turkey's Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu, Iraqi Water Minister Latif Rashid and Syrian Irrigation Minister Nader Bunni.

Issues to be discussed include joint measurement stations along the rivers, exchanging hydrological and meteorological data, seasonal monitoring of water levels and training programmes on climate change and the development of water sources, a Turkish statement said. Iraq called for an urgent meeting with Syria and Turkey after the flow of water from the Euphrates river fell by more than half in less than a month.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Turkey_unable_to_give_more_water_to_Iraq_Syria_minister_999.html

[Craftsman]

1. I wonder when they will go to war for water in teh middle east rather then oil