INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE OVER RIVER WATER: CONFLICT TO COOPERATION IN THE EUPHRATES RIVER BASIN?

• Published in: Oriento Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 649 - 662
• Main Author: DURTH, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.1995
• Subjects: CONFLICT; PERTAINING TO ALL NON-SALT WATER; SECURITY; TURKEY; UNITED STATES, 1945 TO PRESENT
• ISSN: 0030-5219

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLE EAST DEPENDS CRUCIALLY ON SOLUTIONS FOR THE REGION'S WATER PROBLEMS. THE ESSAY DESCRIBES THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT THAT BEGAN IN THE SIXTIES AND LED TO SIXTEEN MORE OR LESS FRUITLESS ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE RIPARIAN STATES. IN A DETAILED POLITECONOMIC ANALYSIS THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A COOPERATIVE SOLUTION ARE DISCUSSED FOR THE TURKISH, THE SYRIAN AND THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. ESPECIALLY THE GOVERNMENT IN UPSTREAM TURKEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM A COOPERATION DEAL, WHICH WOULD BRING IN ANNUALLY SEVERAL BILLIONS OF US-$ IN DIRECT TRANSFERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND HARD CURRENCY WORTH UP TO 17 BILLION US-$ FOR TURKEY. AS ALL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALREADY MADE CONCESSIONS TO EACH OTHER CONCERNING "FAIR SHARES" OF THE EUPHRATES WATER, THESE SIGNIFICANT GAINS FROM COOPERATION CAN BE DIRECTLY CONTRASTED WITH THE "CONTENT SHARE", WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 21% OF THE EUPHRATES WATER. HOWEVER, THE REALIZATION OF A COOPERATIVE SOLUTION IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF THE DOWNSTREAM COUNTRIES CAN RELY ON SOME SORT OF SECURITY GUARANTEES CONCERNING THEIR WATER AND ENERGY SUPPLY AND IF A COMPENSATION MECHANISM CAN BE INTRODUCED BETWEEN TURKEY, SYRIA AND IRAQ. FURTHERMORE, RULES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THE EUPHRATES WATER HAVE TO BE DESIGNED AND ACCEPTED BY ALL PARTIES. ACCEPTANCE OF THE COOPERATION SOLUTION WILL BE EASIER IF THE RULES LEAD TO AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION SINCE THE BIGGER THE GAINS FROM COOPERATION ARE, THE MORE CAN BE DISTRIBUTED AMOUNT THE RIPARIANS.