Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Water in the Middle East and in North Africa pp 319–332Cite as

Syria and Turkey in Water Diplomacy (1962–2003)

  • Chapter

Summary

The complexity of water as a multi-dimensional strategic resource has been extensively highlighted in recent years. Its vital importance is exacerbated in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Middle East. In the case of Syria and Turkey, and at the core of the political and strategic interaction, lie the Euphrates and Tigris waters — the famous Al Furat and Dijleh (Arabic) or Firat and Dicle (Turkish) Rivers. Both rivers have seen the rise of ancient civilizations and the early development of irrigation practices dating back to the Sumerian and Akkadian periods (4000–5000 BC). Meetings have taken place, information on both sides has been exchanged over more than forty years, and experts have established a water-related modus vivendi based on bilateral agreements. This relationship has evolved over the years depending on the regional context, the strategies that were deployed and the link between the water dispute and wider strategic issues. Our purpose will be to analyze bilateral dynamics while highlighting context-related linkages and the importance of water for each actor. We will consider the core problem (the disputed sharing of common water resources in the Euphrates Basin) through the optic of Syria and Turkey’s historical and political interaction, within a range between cooperation and non-cooperation. The minutes of proceedings of the negotiation rounds held between 1962 and 1993 —which have been gathered from the Syrian part-will serve as primary sources for the analysis of face-to-face official positions and exchange of information. These documents constitute an important source of information since they were not formulated in order to sway public opinion, and since their validity has been confirmed by the signature of Turkish negotiators at the time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahmad K (2001) UK Drops Turkish Dam Plan. In: The Observer 1 July

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Hayat (2001) GreenPeace Reveals Water Pollution from Turkey to Syria (in Arabic). 15 August

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Mustaqbal (1999) Israel in the GAP (in Arabic). 12 October, p. 15

    Google Scholar 

  • Allan JA (2000) The Middle East Water Question, Hydropolitics and the Global Economy. I. B. Tauris & Co.Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • An-Nahar (2002) A Syrian-Turkish Project of Agreement around Hydraulic Cooperation and Exchange of Expertise (in Arabic). 21 June

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagis AI (1994) Water in the Region: Potential and Prospects — An Overview. In: Bagis AI (ed) Water as an element of Cooperation and Development in the Middle East. Hacettepe University of Ankara and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Ankara, pp 15 - 27

    Google Scholar 

  • Bari Z (1977) The Syrian-Iraqi Dispute over the Euphrates Waters. In: International Studies vol 16 no 2: pp 227 - 244

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayramoglu A (2001) Southeast of Turkey is Victim of Forced Rural Exodus. In: Sabah ( in Turkish ). Translated by Vanrie P Turkish Press Review, European Institute for Euro-Arab and Mediterranean Research and Cooperation., http://www.medea.be/site.html?/site.html?

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont P (1978) The Euphrates River, an International Problem of Water Resources Development. Water Resources Development vol 5 no 1. pp 35 - 43

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell A (1998) Turkey Turns Down Water Talks with Syrians. CNN Interactive, 15 October Biegala E ( 2001 ) Mixed Blessings From GAP Project for Turkey’s Southeast. In: Turkey Update, http://www.turkeyupdate.com/features/gap.html

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilen 0 (1994) Prospects for Technical Cooperation in the Euphrates-Tigris Basin. In: Biswas A (ed) International Waters in the Middle East, From Euphrates-Tigris to Nile. Oxford University Press, Delhi, pp 95 - 116

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosshard P (1998) Ilisu. Bern Declaration, Switzerland, http://www.rivernet.org/turquie/ilisu.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Can-Brown J (2001) Blair in Drive for Turkish Dam Deal. Sunday Times 28 October

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalaby H, Majzoub T (1995) Turkey, the Waters of the Euphrates and Public International Law. In: Allan JA, Mallat C (eds) Water in the Middle East, Legal, Political and Commercial Implications. Tauris Academic Studies, London, p. 211

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Europe (2002) Humanitarian Situation of the Displaced Kurdish Population of Turkey. Report by the Commission on Migrations, Refugees and Demography of the Parliamentary Assembly, http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc02/FDOC9391.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Europe (2001) Ultural Aspects of the Project Relating to Ilisu Dam, Turkey. Report by the Commission on Culture, Science and Education of the Parliamentary Assembly, http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc01/FDOC9301.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Daoud M (1999) Personal Communication to the author (former member of Syrian delegation to the Tripartite Sessions). Ministry of Irrigation, Damascus, 28 November

    Google Scholar 

  • Daoudy M (1999) Water, Institutions and Development in Syria: A Downstream Perspective from the Euphrates and Tigris. World Commission on Dams, Cairo, http://www.dams.org/submissions/sub_p_af4.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Daoudy M (1996) Entre le Tigre et l’Euphrate, une négociation en eaux troubles. Les Cahiers de l’Orient 44: pp 73 - 95

    Google Scholar 

  • Farah Z (1995) Personal Communication to the author (former Director of Syrian Ministry of Irrigation). Damascus, 20 November

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas EB (1980) Why Collaborate? Issue-Linkage and International Regimes. World Politics vol 32: pp 357 - 405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hokayem A, Bittar MC (1981) ’Empire Ottoman, les Arabes et les Grandes Puissances, 1914-1920. Editions Universitaires du Liban, Collection: l’Histoire par les Documents, Beyrouth International Friends of Kurdistan (2000) The Ilisu Dam and GAP, http://international-friends-of-kurdistan.s5.com/Ilisu%20Dam.htm/Ilisu%20Dam.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • International Rivers Network (2002) Swiss Bank UBS Quits Turkish Ilisu Dam Project

    Google Scholar 

  • International Rivers Network (2001) Balfour Beatty Withdraws from Ilisu Dam Project

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasm B (1996) The Syrian-Turkish Dispute over the Euphrates River in International Law: Recent Developments (in Arabic). Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Kibaroglu A (1998) Management and Allocation of the Waters of the Euphrates-Tigris Basin: Lessons drawn from Global Experiences. Ph.D thesis, Bilkent University

    Google Scholar 

  • Kienle E (1990) Ba’th v. Ba’th, the Conflict between Syria and Iraq, 1968-1989. I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd, London and New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliot N (1994) Water Resources and Conflicts in the Middle East. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolars JF (2000) The Spatial Attributes of Water Negotiation, the Need for a River Ethic and River Advocacy in the Middle East. In: Amery H, Wolf AT (eds) Water in the Middle East, A Geography of Peace. The University of Texas Press, Austin, pp 245 - 261

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolars JF, Mitchell WA (1991) The Euphrates River and the Southeast Anatolia Development Project. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale

    Google Scholar 

  • League of Nations (1940-1944) Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France and Turkey, Treaty of Mutual Assistance, Signed at Angora, October 19, 1939 and two Protocols annexed thereto of the same Date. Treaty Series no 4689 vol 200, pp 167 - 189

    Google Scholar 

  • League of Nations (1926-1927) Convention of Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations, with Procès-Verbal of Signature, Signed at Angora, May 30, 1926. Treaty Series no 1285 vol 54, pp 195 - 229

    Google Scholar 

  • League of Nations (1926-1927) France and Turkey, Agreement with a View to promoting Peace with Protocol relating thereto, Protocol concerning into coming into force, and Exchange of Notes, Signed at Angora, October 20, 1921. Treaty Series no 1284 vol 54, pp 177 - 193

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardam Bey S (1994) Syria’s Quest for Independence. Ithaca Press Reading, Beyrouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris M (1997) Water and Conflict in the Middle East: Threats and Opportunities. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism vol 20 no 1. pp 1 - 13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picard E (1993) Eau et sécurité dans le bassin de l’Euphrate. In: Géopolitique vol 43. pp 75-79 Republic of Turkey (2003) The Turkish National Policy for Utilizing the Waters of the Euphrates-

    Google Scholar 

  • Tigris Basin (The Three-Staged Plan). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.mfa.gov.tr/grupa/ad/adg/adge/default.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of Turkey (2003) The Criteria Which Would Satisfy Each of the Countries in Allocating Transboundary Waters. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.mfa.gov.tr/grupa/ad/adg/adgd/Chap3.HTM

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of Turkey (1996) Water Issues between Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Regional and Transboundary Waters, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of Turkey (1992) Turkey and the Question of Water in the Middle East. Turkish Embassy, Department of Information, France

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of Turkey (1990) Press Statement on the Water Summit between Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara, 26-27 June

    Google Scholar 

  • Rifai M (1998) A Regime for International Watercourses and its Application to the Tigris and Euphrates Basins (in Arabic). In: Water in the Arab World. Maalumat Editions, Beyrouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (2001) Al Atrash-Yilmaz Statements. Syrian Arab News Agency, Dam-ascus, 24 August

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1999) Hydraulic Plans: 1995 - 1999. Ministry of Irrigation, Damascus

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1995) Hydraulic Plans: 1990 - 1995. Ministry of Irrigation, Damascus

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1993-1995) Exchange of Official Notes with Turkey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1993) Common Statement Following the Visit of Turkish Prime Minister S. Demirel. Damascus, 19-20 January

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1992) Common Statement Following the Visit of Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs H. Cetin. Damascus, 2 August

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1989) Common Minutes of Proceedings between Syria and Iraq. Baghdad, 17 April.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1987) Protocol of 1987 on Issues relating to Economic Cooperation between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Turkey. 17 July

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1982-1992) Internal reports by the Syrian Delegation on the Two Techni-cal Committees between Iraq/Turkey and the Tripartite Syria/Iraq/Turkey Sessions. 10 Ses-sion of 17 to 27 May 1982; 2nd Session of 29 November to 2 January 1982; 3rd Tripartite Session of 26 to 28 September 1983; 4th Tripartite Session of 11 to 14 June 1984; 5th Tripartite Session of 5 to 8 November 1984; 6th Tripartite Session of 5 to 9 June 1985; 7th Tripartite Session of 25 to 30 January 1986; 8th Tripartite Session of 23 to 30 June 1986; 9th Tripartite Session of 10 to 16 January 1987; 10th Tripartite Session of 5 to 10 January 1988; 11th Tripartite Session of 1988; 12th Tripartite Session 13 to 20 March 1989; 13th Tripartite Session of 18 to 24 April 1989; 14th Tripartite Session of 29 November to 1 December 1989; 15th Tripartite Session of 7 to 12 March 1990; 16th Tripartite Session of 28 September to 2 October 1992

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1972-1974) Internal reports by the Syrian Delegation on Tripartite Syria/Iraq/Turkey Sessions 1st Trilateral Session of 9 to 10 April 1972; 2nd Trilateral Session of 26 August to 7 September 1972; 3rd Trilateral Session of 1 to 27 November 1972; 4th Trilateral Session of 9 September to 6 October 1973; 5th Trilateral Session of 1 to 17 April 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1962-1974) Internal reports by the Syrian Delegation on Bilateral Syria/Iraq Sessions. 1St Bilateral Session of 24 September-9 October 1962; 2nd Bilateral Session of July 1963; 3rd Bilateral Session of 26 May to 2 June 1966; 4th Bilateral Session of 26 January to 9 February 1967; 5th Bilateral Session of 12 April to 7 May 1967; 6th Bilateral Session of 1-26 November 1967; 7th Bilateral Session of 6 to 22 April 1971; 8th Bilateral Session of 27 December 1971 to 3 January 1972; 9th Bilateral Session of March 1972; 10th Bilateral Session of 19 May to 5 June 1974; I lth Bilateral Session of 16 to 20 July 1974; 12th Bilateral session of 18 to 21 November 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrian Arab Republic (1962-1971) Internal reports by the Syrian Delegation on Bilateral Syria/Turkey Sessions. 1st Bilateral Session of 16 to 22 January 1962; 2nd Bilateral Session of 3 to 16 September 1963; 3rd Bilateral Session of 19 to 29 January 1969; 4th Bilateral Session of 14 to 24 June 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Tishrin (2001) Syria, Iraq Concerned at Turkish Use of Euphrates, Tigris. Damascus, 28 November

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (1997) Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. General Assembly, International Law Commission, Document 51/229, 21 May, http://www.un.org/law/ilc/texts/nnavfra.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Unver 0 (1994) Innovations in Water Resources Development in Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) of Turkey. In: Bagis AI (ed) Water as an Element of Cooperation and Development in the Middle East. Hacettepe University of Ankara and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Ankara, pp 27 - 37

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Development Studies Department, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK

    Marwa Daoudy

Authors
  1. Marwa Daoudy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mineralogy, Department of Environmental Analytics, University of Frankfurt, Georg-Voigt-Str. 16, 60054, Frankfurt, Germany

    Fathi Zereini

  2. Center for Environmental Research (ZUF), University of Frankfurt, Georg-Voigt-Straße 14, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany

    Wolfgang Jaeschke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Daoudy, M. (2004). Syria and Turkey in Water Diplomacy (1962–2003). In: Zereini, F., Jaeschke, W. (eds) Water in the Middle East and in North Africa. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-10866-6_27

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-10866-6_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-05862-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-10866-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation