Issue of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are the main water supplies to the countries Turkey, Syria and Iraq, however recently a drought has been affecting them and is thus causing disputes as a consequence. Furthermore, the drought has caused severe crop loss in the countries involved, resulting in food shortages and economical problems.
The waters primarily flow through Turkey, and only then continue on through the other two countries, Syria and Iraq. Under UN law, Turkey is required to allow 500 CM^3 to pass downstream per second, however Syria and Iraq argue that they are in need of larger amounts in order to prevent a water crisis. In addition, Syria and Iraq claim that the water flowing downstream is being polluted by Turkey, and therefore the little water they do receive is already damaged.
There is further tension between the countries, following the observation that Turkey controls the river and enjoys an extended amount of power in the region as an outcome. The countries perceive the river as a strategical and important resource, and they all want to be entitled to a fair area of the waters. Turkey is holding a dominant part of the resource and is therefore being given some sort of control over the other nations – this is something that is likely to destabilize relations between the countries.
Iraq has been affected the most by the situation, suffering the worst droughts and crop losses. They consider the problem to be the direct result of Turkey and Syria's actions in the past, and hence expect them to take the initiative to solve the present crisis.
The three countries must debate on who is entitled to which areas of the water, who can rightly claim rights over the resources, and how much the UN should allow to pass downstream. Also, they should agree on a standard of the quality the water passed down from Turkey arrives in and how they can fairly come to an agreement in which all three receive the best part of the deal and the waters are divided in the most sensible and efficient manner.
The following links provide detailed summaries of the Issue described, the countries' uses of the waters, each countries position and views on the topic, geographical information and more:
http://www1.american.edu/ted/ice/tigris.htm
http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/regulation_of_the_tigris_and_euphrates_rivers
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/03/content_11992315.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2003/aug/23/water12
Please bear in mind the date each one of the statements has been published; the ones that are a few years old are to present you with the history of the disputes and the actions that have been taken so far. The general policy of each country would not have changed but do not present old events as current by mistake.
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