Iraq calls for regional strategic investments projects in the Tigris-Euphrates basin
On Wednesday, Iraq called for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to be the foundation of joint cooperation projects for the basin countries through strategic investment projects.
As reported by Shafaq News, according to a statement by the Ministry of Water Resources the minister Mohsen Al-Shammari attended the fifth steering committee meeting of the Swedish initiative on the Program of Cooperation of Tigris and Euphrates rivers basin countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Al-Shammari delivered a speech in which he thanked the Swedish government’s efforts and its commitment to achieving peace, security and development in the region and in particular the basins of the Tigris and Euphrates countries.
He praised the efforts of the Turkish government to hold the gathering in its country as well as the efforts of all water security experts present.
The Iraqi minister stressed the importance of water being an indispensable component of human life, referring to the issues of climate change and global warming which are some of the largest challenges faced by the countries in the region.
He referred to the importance of developing water and solar energy, and he views the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as a means to establish joint cooperation through strategic investment projects.
Al-Shammari said that Iraq would like to host the next meeting of the initiative, whether in Baghdad or another Iraqi province.
Iraq has suffered for years of low Tigris and Euphrates river waters due to poor rainfall and the construction of dams by Turkey and Syria, contravening international law.
