Baghdad The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Aoun Dhiab Abdullah, received in his office the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Muhammad Reza Konay, and his accompanying delegation.
During the meeting, they discussed the bonds of joint cooperation between the two countries in all irrigation issues and fields, guaranteeing Iraq’s water rights, and the challenges facing the Ministry’s work as a result of climate changes and the lack of water imports entering Iraq.
The Minister stressed, according to a statement by the Ministry: “Such important meetings are to consolidate the bonds of joint cooperation between the two neighboring countries, which were postponed as a result of the circumstances that Turkey went through, represented by the successive earthquakes that hit the country, calling for mercy for the martyrs and a speedy recovery for the sick.”
Minister Dhiab explained the seriousness of the water situation in Iraq, which has been going through severe scarcity conditions for four consecutive years that have not passed in the country since 1933, calling on the Turkish side to share the damage with Iraq and activate the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in the field of water, directing at the same time the invitation to the Turkish and Syrian companies Experience and specialists to supply Iraq with the latest technologies and technology to achieve optimal water management by reducing water losses and rationalizing water consumption.
He indicated that the ministry has a road map for drawing up its water policy, represented by the strategic study of water and land resources, which is prepared until the year 2035, and updating it according to the changes that occurred in the water reality in the country.
The Minister stressed the need for serious cooperation to reach solutions and exchange visions and ideas and get out of the contraction in bilateral relations for openness, since the two countries have a close historical relationship, announcing a close official visit to Turkey headed by a high-level delegation and in the presence of the Minister to discuss the repercussions of the water file and the drought crisis.
The Minister also called on the media to exercise caution in transmitting information, especially with regard to bilateral relations between the neighboring country, Turkey, and not to give unfounded statistics and numbers.
For his part, the Ambassador thanked the Iraqi government and its role in extending a helping hand and assistance to the Turkish government in its ordeal as a result of the recent tremors, expressing his country’s full readiness to cooperate with Iraq in implementing projects that are implemented using advanced techniques and technology that would upgrade the country’s water system towards prosperity and reduce the effects of water scarcity. ./ End
Source: National Iraqi News Agency