Ambassador Andreas Graf
The GA Second Committee: Economic and Financial
Republic of Turkey
Shawnee Mission East
International Year of Freshwater 2003
The world is currently faced with a water shortage crisis that threatens human
security and sustainable socio-economic development. Population growth,
industrialization, and urbanization during the 20th century have resulted in a substantial
increase in water consumption and finite freshwater resources are gradually being
depleted. The problem is further aggravated by the uneven water distribution on the earth.
The Middle East and North Africa region, one of the world’s driest and most water scarce
areas, is home for 5% of the world population and less than 1% of the available world's
freshwater resources. Turkey strongly believes that immediate action must be taken to
provide and secure freshwater resources throughout the world.
While Turkey is situated in a semi-arid region the country has several major
freshwater sources that help provide not only drinking water but an adequate supply of
water for irrigation and agriculture, and a large amount hydroelectric power. Turkey
believes that the production of hydropower and its wider use should be encouraged in
accordance with the Implementation plan of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. Renewable energy can play a key role in the
eradication of poverty and additional steps should be taken at regional and international
levels to support and finance multi-purpose water infrastructure.
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are especially important to the region because of
their massive potential both economically and diplomatically. An effective example of
the transition from simple water development to efficient water management is the
Southeast Anatolia Project which is a regional integrated sustainable development
program that has harnessed the water resources of the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers to
provide for intensive agriculture in the “Upper Mesopotamian” region. The two rivers are
also diplomatically advantageous because of their flow into the neighboring countries of
Syria and Iraq. Turkey’s policy regarding Transboundary Rivers states that each riparian
state has the sovereign right to make use of water in its territory but also a responsibility
to provide for the equitable distribution of water to other riparian states. The Turkish
government believes that water is the key to war and peace in the Middle East and has
therefore worked hard to come to a mutual agreement regarding the allocation of water
from the rivers. Turkey views water as a catalyst for cooperation rather than a source of
conflict.
Turkey has been developing the “Peace Pipeline Project” which seeks to provide
freshwater to Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States from its
national rivers. This project will supplement the limited water resources of the region,
promote economic relations among the countries, and enhance peace and stability in the
Middle East. In view of the expected water shortage in the Middle East in the years to
come, Turkey has also introduced the concept of water transfer by sea to water stressed
countries in the region from its national rivers in the Mediterranean region where there is
a surplus of freshwater.