ORSAM :: Water Resorces

13 May 2013 – 19 May 2013 ORSAM Water Bulletin

20.05.2013 00:00:00

ORSAM Water Bulletin conveys the recent developments in the Middle East's water agenda instantly. More on events, news, politics, projects, environment, climate change, neighbourhoods, cooperation, disputes and scarcity is in this bulletin.

Turkey Progresses in Harmony with EU Water Framework Directive

15.05.2013 00:00:00

Within the scope of Turkey’s negotiations with the EU on the environment chapter, ongoing since Dec. 21, 2009, Turkey is required to integrate the EU Water Framework Directive into its water-related policies, regulations and laws due to its candidate status. There are two main processes of harmonization in the directive..

Issues Related to the Helmand River between Afghanistan and Iran

10.05.2013 00:00:00

Due to the unstable situation of Afghanistan for many years, it remains behind in the development of water resources as in for the other issues. It is located in the middle of the Eurasian continent and its surface area is 652 thousand square kilometres. Its neighbours are Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan and China.

Restoration of Iraq's Basra Marshes

06.05.2013 00:00:00

Along with the water shortage in Iraq, the risk of destruction of the wetlands located in the south of Iraq has stayed on the agenda for a long time. With their socio-cultural and environmental importance, the Basra Marshes -formerly known as the Mesopotamian Marshes- are the largest wetlands of the Middle East.

The EU Water Framework Directive Overcoming Its Shortcomings: Water Scarcity and Droughts

03.05.2013 00:00:00

The main goal of the EU Water Framework Directive, of which the draft works were prepared by Germany and the Netherlands and came into force on December 2000, aims for 'good status' for all ground and surface waters in the EU.

Ignored Riparian in the Aral Sea Basin: Afghanistan

29.04.2013 00:00:00

Two important rivers in the Aral Sea basin and the problems on transboundary water between the countries where those rivers flow into are one of the main focuses of the hydropolitics literature. Especially the fact that the amount of water reaching the Aral Sea and that the Aral Sea came to the verge of destruction by shrinking as a result of this.

Iran Speeds up Dam Construction to Deal with Water Shortage

16.04.2013 00:00:00

Iran, which is subjected to the Middle East’s semi-arid climate, has a large geography with a surface area of 1.7 million square kilometers. It is located in one of the most arid regions of the world and its average annual precipitation is 252 millimeters. This figure is just a fourth of the world’s average precipitation.

The NGOs of Iraq as a Foreign Policy Tool: The Case of the Ilisu Dam

11.04.2013 00:00:00

The problem between Iraq, Syria and Turkey related to the utilization of waters of the Euphrates-Tigris basin has been continuing since a long time. This problem has been frequently stated by Iraq in recent periods through different platforms.

Turks Have High Profile in Global Water Institutions

11.04.2013 00:00:00

As is well known, both the quality and the quantity of water resources are adversely affected by the fast-growing population of the world, climate change, increasing urbanization and the development of agriculture and industry. There is a total of 1.4 billion cubed kilometers of water in the world.

Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Water Policy in the Mediterranean Countries

05.04.2013 00:00:00

The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Water Management has agreed on a series of training programs with the European Union Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Office (TAIEX) and, as a result, a project was launched in September 2012.

The Water Issue in Iraq and Attempts to Solve It

03.04.2013 00:00:00

Iraq, which has been in constant conflict for the last three decades with the Iran-Iraq War from 1980-1988, the Gulf War from 1990-1991, the embargo placed on it between 1990 and 2003 and the US intervention between 2003 and 2011, is in shambles.

The Water Security Concept is on the Process of Redefinition

28.03.2013 00:00:00

Along with World Water Day, which is celebrated on 22nd March, conferences regarding the vital importance of water are held in many parts of the world and also studies on this subject have been published.

Forestry and Water Council Meeting Held in Ankara

26.03.2013 00:00:00

The Forestry and Water Council Meeting was held in Ankara between 21-23 March 2013. The “Forestry and Water Council” gained legal status as a permanent council of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in accordance with the 645 numbered Decree Law regulating the establishment and duties of the Ministry.

March 22nd: World Water Day

22.03.2013 00:00:00

The importance of water for all communities has increased significantly in the twentieth century as compared to previous periods as a result of population growth, the development of industry and widespread use of water in agriculture.

International Water Conference "Blue Peace" Held in Istanbul

21.03.2013 00:00:00

The report entitled, “The Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water” was launched by Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) on January 2011 with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The Issues Related to Boundary and Transboundary Waters in the Aras-Kura Basin

07.03.2013 00:00:00

In the hydropolitics literature, it is commonly stated that Aras-Kura River basin has become a transboundary basin after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, this is a misleading interpretation. It is a fact that the riparian countries of the basin have increased after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

China’s New Strategy to Develop Relations with Africa: Dam Construction

28.02.2013 00:00:00

Even though relations between China and Africa date back more than 2,000 years, a visit by Ibn Battuta, known as one of the greatest travelers of all time, in the 14th century is considered the start of relations. Battuta was followed to Africa by an expedition by a Chinese fleet admiral and diplomat, Zheng He.

The first water-related gathering convened by the D-8 (Developing Eight) countries in İstanbul

26.02.2013 00:00:00

The Developing 8 (D-8), including Turkey, was founded in İstanbul on 5 June 1997. Being a group that was established to develop economic and trade cooperation among the member countries, D-8 consists of Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Changing Status of Water in Turkish Foreign Policy

20.02.2013 00:00:00

Turkish foreign policy problems on transboundary waters started to emerge in 1960’s. In parallel with the overall tendency in the world, utilization water for irrigation and to generate hydroelectric power was at a limited level also in Turkey before this period, thus transboundary and border setting waters did not pose any problem with the neighboring countries.

Transboundary Water Problems in West Africa

18.02.2013 00:00:00

Turkey’s increasing interest in Africa since 2005 has brought a new dimension of international relations of Turkey. President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Ghana and Gabon and Prime Minister’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Gabon, Niger and Senegal indicate that this policy has been supported by high authorities.