Transboundary Water Resources Allocation Under Various Parametric Conditions: The Case Of The Euphrates & Tigris River Basin

The literature on transboundary water resources allocation modeling is still short in encompassing and analyzing complex geographic multiparty nature of basins. This study elaborates Inter Temporal Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model (ITETRBM)*, which is a linear programming based transboundary water resources allocation model maximizing net economic benefit from allocation of scarce water resources to energy generation, urban, and agricultural uses. The elaborations can be categorized in two dimensions: First, agricultural and urban demand nodes are spatially identified with their relative elevations and distances to water resources supplies (reservoirs). Digital elevation model (DEM) database are intensely processed in geographic information systems (GIS) environment. Second, the agricultural irrigable lands are restructured into a pixel based decision making units (DMUs) in order to be able to see the spatial extent of optimally irrigated land, and then optimization program is converted from linear programming (LP) to a mixed integer programming (MIP). The model applications are designed to cover a series of sensitivity analyses encompassing the various transboundary management, energy and agricultural use values, and transportation cost scenarios over the optimal uses of the Euphrates and Tigris Basin (ETRB) resources. The model results are visually presented via GIS in order to show the transboundary upstream and downstream spatial impacts of these selected parameters. The findings are i) system parameters significantly alter the spatial extent of water resources allocation in the ETRB, and ii) the magnitudes of the parameters also explains the tradeoffs between agriculture and energy sectors as much as upstream and downstream water uses of countries. * Kucukmehmetoglu, M. (2009). A game theoretic approach to assess the impacts of major investments on transboundary water resources: The case of the Euphrates and Tigris. Water Resources Management, 23(15): 3069-3099

Turkey's global strategy: Turkey and Iraq

Interaction between Turkey and Iraq is rapidly increasing, with economic and strategic interests driving political cooperation, yet there are still longer-term challenges remain to be solved, particularly in relation to energy and water security. Iraq is one of Turkey’s most important trading partners and is becoming an essential source of energy. It attaches great deal of importance to Iraq’s stability and territorial integrity and sees those matters as crucial to its own security and stability. Turkey has become more active in Iraqi affairs, including burgeoning trade and investment relations, close communication with infl uential political actors and pro-active engagement with Iraqi Kurds. The elimination of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a major security objective on the agenda of Turkish-Iraqi bilateral relations. Moreover, the future status of Kirkuk, an ethnically mixed city of Kurds, Arabs, and Turcomans, among them Muslims and Christians and home to some of the Iraq’s largest oil reserves, is another cause for concern for Turkey. Turkey’s principal anxiety is that the oil riches of Kirkuk will only encourage the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to seek greater autonomy, which may spill over into its own borders and spark unrest among Turkey’s own Kurdish population. Essentially, energy, economy and reconstruction form the crux of the Turkish involvement in Iraq

The Evolution of Transboundary Water Politics in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria

The program will begin with a public address and keynote lecture by Aysegul Kibaroglu, world expert on Turkish water policy issues and the history of cooperation across political boundaries in the Euphrates-Tigris region. The purpose of this two-day workshop is to uncover the intersections between technical and traditional knowledge bases, and address the misunderstanding that arise due to conflicting epistemic perspectives. The objective of the workshop is to uncover cases in which local wisdom has the potential to aid proper implementation of technical solutions, as well as the pitfalls that should be avoided. Current issues, such as the impending evacuation around the Tigris due to issues with the Mosul dam, make this workshop particularly salient.Euphrates-Tigris Initiative for CooperationOhio State University. Mershon Center for International Security SeriesOhio State University. Global Water InitiativeEvent web pag

Hydropolitics in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley : a case study of the water policies of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq

The Tigris-Euphrates Valley spans the borders of three countries. Each country is undergoing social changes that result in the increased demand for this valley\u27s water. Unfortunately, political hostilities among these countries have prevented coordinated development policies and have created a problem whereby one country\u27s utilization of the resources means that another country\u27s goals are jeopardized. This case study analyzes these social changes and political hostilities, and identifies their affects on international relations when one country deprives its riparian neighbor(s) of water. As these countries continue to construct dams on their portions of the river beds, the commodity of water will continue to be coveted. Until now, politics have prevented these riparian countries from coordinating their utilization of a scarce product. This case study suggests that these countries must overcome their political hostilities or else they will not be able to build a foundation for a cooperative relationship

Conflict and Cooperation Over Transboundary Waters

human development, water, sanitation

Water Conflict Between Syria and Turkey

Water has come to the forefront as issue in relationships between the nations and countries of the Middle East recently. It also dominates a significant place on the plan of several international organizations. The diverse and conflicting nature of ethno-religious groups in the Middle East, which include Turks, Kurds and Arabs makes the controlling of the insufficient water resources a risky venture in diplomacy, and adds to the difficulty of reaching cooperation[1]. Water is important and necessary for human security and one of the significant element of sustainable socio-economic development.[2] Water is a valuable resource which is progressively become scarcer. Within 50 years more than half of the world population will be living with lack of water because of a universal water crisis, according to a statement issued by the U.N Environment Program. In additional, it is extremely unlikely that there is going to be enough water for everyone except the necessary steps are taken at regional and international level. World watch Institute claimed that water will be the main reason of new conflicts. Therefore, there is a natural convergence as these states like to control and hold the power and supreme authority on available and obtainable natural water resources.[3] The issue began when in 1970s Syria and Turkey started consuming and utilizing the waters of the Euphrates by large amount and scale irrigation and hydroelectric power generation projects. These extra-large projects definitely damaged the conventional and customary water supply. This point means a significant issue between these two countries, as it can be seen that the obstructions are noticed as threats not as means to store water.[4] It can be seen that these countries are afraid of the shortage of water in their countries, specially Syria because the main resource of water comes from Turkey and all these obstacles will reduce the water flow from Turkey towards Syria. It is obvious that the shortage will lead to conflicts between these two countries and might lead to war, as a conflict is already existed among them. [1]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/35248998_The_water_dispute_between_Turkey_Syria_and_Iraq [accessed Oct 15 2017]. [2] http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkey_s-policy-on-water-issues.en.mfa [3] Samreen Aamir Bari, The water crises in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, JULY 17, 2016 [4] https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/17/the-water-crises-in-turkey-syria-and-iraq

Identity, Conflict and Cooperation in International River Basins

This dissertation tests the hypothesis that water disputes cause serious conflict within and between states. It uses a structured case study approach to see whether there is a link between the independent and dependent variables. It also considers the effect of other variables on serious conflict. Specifically it addresses the effects of national identity and the othering process on conflict. The three case studies are built around rivers in the drier parts of the world. This biases the dissertation towards affirming the established mainstream hypothesis which states that water disputes cause serious conflict. In all three cases, historical animosities and perceptions related to issues of national identity were instrumental in causing political conflict and war between and within states. In the Indus Basin, where water disputes have been resolved, conflict between and within India and Pakistan continued unabated. The conflict there dates to 1947 and has recently acquired a nuclear dimension. In the Nile Basin, religion and ethnicity were the primary factors causing all 20th century warfare there. The same pattern also held in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. In short, water disputes were of no relevance in terms of causing serious conflict. In fact, a strong case can be made that serious conflicts cause water disputes