Baghdad Minister of Water Resources Mahdi Rashid Al-Hamdani confirmed the activation of a memorandum of understanding with Turkey, allowing Iraq to obtain a full share of water.

Al-Hamdani said in a speech at the conference (Water Security is One of the Most Important Pillars of National Security): “The ministry was able to activate the memorandum of understanding with Turkey, which was signed in 2009 and amended in 2014, and it allows Iraq to obtain a full share of water.” Pointing out that “there is a joint committee with Turkey based in Iraq to coordinate the water issue.”

He pointed out that “the water coming from Iran, although it is 15% as water flows, greatly affects Diyala, because the governorate is completely fed by Iranian water.”

He added, “The water crisis is not a ministry crisis, but rather a country crisis entirely, and we hope that everyone will continue to pay attention to the water file,” stressing that “there are executive procedures and a protocol voted by the Cabinet in order to determine the financial water share.”

Al-Hamdani continued: “The upstream countries took advantage of the Iraqi situation after 2003 and established many projects, since more than 90% of the water resources are outside Iraq,” noting: “The great development and increase in population growth carried additional burdens to the Ministry by securing drinking and agriculture water.”

He explained: “Security and water are closely linked, and dealing with the water file is very sensitive,” noting: “The ministry has developed a strategic study in partnership with all state institutions until 2035, and this study needs a lot of money, and the state’s financial situation is intolerable.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency