ISBN: Ostalo
Godina izdanja: 1996
Jezik: Engleski
Autor: Strani

WATER ISSUES BETWEEN TURKEY SYRIA AND IRAQ
Publisher : Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Department of regional and tranboundary waters
June 1996 Ankara
FOREWORD

The purpose of this study is to shed further light on various aspects of an issue which attracts the attention of several observers of Middle Eastern affairs: The waters of Euphrates and Tigris. Several books and innumerable articles were written on this issue, but most of them reflected the views of the downstream riparians of these two rivers, namely Syria and Iraq.

Turkey`s views were reflected in those books and articles either in a patchy or distorted manner or were not reflected at all. But the authors of those books and articles cannot be blamed for this. A text containing the offical position of Turkey on this issue was not made available to possible users.

This study does not claim to reflect all aspects of Turkey`s position, but is a compilation of Turkey`s views on various aspects of the question. The issue of waters of Euphrates and Tigris deserves several in-depth studies on each of these aspects, because these two rivers have their own characteristics which differ from many transboundary rivers in other regions of the world: they stem from a country (Turkey) which is poor in water resources and they flow into the territories of two states one of which (Syria) is even poorer and the other (Iraq) is richer than Turkey in water resources.

Furthermore lack of mutual trust among countries of the region creates additional difficulties in the search for solution to the problems.

This study may contribute to filling the gap stemming from the lack of information regarding Turkey`s position on this important issue.

Contents :
1. THE WATER PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST
A. The General Situation
B. Turkey`s Position Relating to the Water Resources
C. Water Disputes in the Euphrates-Tigris Basin
a) The Euphrates River
b) The Tigris River
c) Another Issue of Dispute: The Orontes (Al-Asi) River
d) Objections Directed by Syria and Iraq Towards the Dams
Built on the Euphrates River by Turkey
i) Objections Directed Towards the Impounding of the
Atatürk Dam
ii) Objections to the Construction of the Birecik Dam

e) Recent Negotiations Concerning the Euphrates-Tigris Basin between Turkey, Syria and Iraq
i) Negotiations Held between 19-20 January 1993
ii) Meeting of 17-20 May 1993 Between Turkey and Syria
iii) The Meeting held with Iraq on 21 June 1993
iv) Notes given by Syria and Iraq on the Construction of the Birecik Dam

II. THE ARGUMENTS OF SYRIA AND IRAQ CONCERNING THE EUPHRATES-TIGRIS BASIN AND TURKEY`S VIEWS THEREOF
A. Arguments of Iraq
B. Arguments of Syria
C. Turkey`s Views on the Arguments of its Neighbours

III. THE CRITERIA WHICH WOULD SATISFY EACH OF THE THREE COUNTRIES IN ALLOCATING TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS

IV. THE TURKISH NATIONAL POLICY FOR UTILIZING THE WATERS OF EUPHRATES-TIGRIS BASIN (THE THREE-STAGED PLAN)
V. INTERNATIONAL CODIFICATION EFFORTS IN THE FIELD OF THE
NON-NAVIGATIONAL USE TRANSBOUNDARY WATERCOURSES

A. Codification Studies by ILA
B. Codification Studies by ILC
C. Conclusion

VI. INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES ON TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
A. The Water Dispute on the Ganges River
B. The Water Dispute between the USA and Mexico
C. Disputes Between Mexico and Guetamala
D. The Dispute Between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho
E. The Dispute Between Swaziland and the Republic of South Africa

ANNEXES
Annex 1:
Maps
Map I: The Euphrates-Tigris Basin
Map II: Tharthar Project
Map III: The Orontes (Al-Asi)Basin
Map IV: The Jordan Basin

Annex II:
The Helsinki Rules of the International Law Association on The Uses of the Waters of International Waters (1966)

Annex III:
Complementary Rules Applicable to the International Water Resources adopted by the International Law Association (1986)

Annex IV:
United Nations Draft Articles on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1994)

Annex V :
Treaty between the United States of America and Mexico on the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (1944)

Annex VI:
The Treaty Between The Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa Pertaining to the Utilization of the Waters of the Senqu/Orange River System (1986)
Paperback, size 16 x 24 cm , illustrated , 102 pages , težina 193 grama