Conflicts - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

GAP provokes tensions between Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
A protocol about the share of water was annexed to the 1946 Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations between Iraq and Turkey. Turkey also promised to share related data and to allow 15.75 km³/year o r 500 m³/s of water arriving to Syria. In 1990, Turkey filled up the Atatürk reservoir that cut Euphrates flow to Syria and Iraq during about one month. Syria and Iraq blame Turkey for being responsible of many shortages and to turning water into a political weapon.

From time to time the PKK (Kurdish terrorist) damages dams and canals.

Economic development - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Thanks to irrigation, production of cotton, wheat, barley, lentils is increasing. Farmers are encouraged to grow new varieties of vegetables and fruits.

Fishing industry is more and more important thanks to the numerous lakes created by dams.

The 19 hydroelectric power plants provide 8,900 GW/hour ; they will supply 22% of the Turkey needs in 2010.

Social purposes - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

The GAP considers the sustainable human development issue which aims at creating a background where future generations could live in good conditions.Thanks to the GAP, Turkey wants to normalize levels of development, of income and living standards between the Southern Anatolia and the rest of the country by promoting business, creating jobs, building airports and highways...

GAP's birth - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Previously a kind of melting-pot, Southern Anatolia was prosperous because it was located on the trading route between the East and the West.

Atatürk thought about using the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the 1920-30 s to match the electrical energy needs.
The 1936 Electricity Studies Administration planned first to make only an economic project (irrigation, hydraulic energy) but then this project became a social one too. The 1989 Master Plan which aimed at revitalize the economy, the social and cultural life of Southern Anatolia didn't reach its goal.

Now, the GAP concerns irrigation, hydraulic energy, agriculture, rural and urban infrastructure, forestry, education and health issues. It tends to improve the living standards and increase people's income in order to delete inequalities, to assure a social stability and to provide a economic growth. It takes part in the Program for Transition to a Strengthened Economy which is one of the program for the Turkey's accession to the European Union.

Presentation - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

The GAP (Güneydogu Anadolu Projesi) is a multi-sector project that aims at developing the Southern Anatolia in Turkey (improvement living standards and increasing inhabitants' income by reducing the unemployment) and controlling the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers.

Nine provinces are concerned : Adiyaman, Batman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Kilis, Siirt, Sanliurfa, Mardin, and Sirnak.

22 dams and 19 power plants were planned to be built.

Euphrates Basin
Atatürk Dam (1992)
Birecik Dam (2000)
Büyükçay Dam
Çamgazi Dam (1998)
Çataltepe Dam
Gömikan Dam
Hancağız Dam (1988)
Kahta Dam
Karakaya Dam (1987)
Karkamış Dam (1999)
Kayacık Dam
Kemlin Dam
Koçali Dam
Sırımtaş Dam

Atatürk dam

Tigris Basin
Batman Dam (1998)
Cizre Dam
Dicle Dam (1997)
Garzan Dam
Kayser Dam
Kralkızı Dam (1997)
Ilısu Dam
Silvan Dam

Dicle dam

Irrigation is enabled by a network of canals (kind of artificial rivers), earth distribution channels, furrows, drip tubes, flow regulators and sluice gates.

Political issues - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Political

The fact that these rivers flow across different states is a real threat because of water dependence in this region. The control of these rivers can be used as a weapon by upstream countries.

This region is a turbulent area : over the last century it knew two world wars and several armed conflicts which were not directly linked to water resources. Because of these political tensions and the lack of confidence, it was and is still tough for governments to co-operate over water. There isn’t a regional institution that can bring together countries over the economic and political issues.

The lack of reliable databases about water resources disturbs the management of these rivers.

Crisis

Until 1970 :
- Ottoman Empire prevented from possible conflicts, up to the end of the world war I.
- Iraq, the downstream country, was the bigger user of water whereas Turkey and Syria, upstream and midstream countries didn’t use it much. Thus, conflicts appeared when Turkey and Syria began to use these rivers in the 1960’s.

First crisis :
- 1965-75 Keban dam (Euphrates) in Turkey

- 1968 Tabaga al-Thawara dam (Euphrates) in Syria
- 1973-1975 : because of drought, Iraq blamed Syria from reducing the Euphrates’ flow while Syria did the same against Turkey. In 1974, Iraq threatened to drop bombs on the al-Thawara dam. It ended up with an agreement : 40% of the water were for Syria and 60% for Iraq.
- 1975 : Karababa dam (Euphrates) in Turkey

Second crisis :
- Turkey made up a lot of water development projects which are a threat for downstream countries.The GAP (Great Anatolian Project) is a project concerning the south of Anatolia in Turkey which aims at improving the living conditions of the local population. Many dams were and will be built to increase the hydroelectric production and the irrigation. So huge water quantities are used without anyone taking care of the downstream countries. For instance, in 1992, Turkey ended up the construction of the Ataturk dam : during one month, it used all the water from the Euphrates to fill the dam.

Social and environmental issues - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Water conflicts can be explained by political, social and environmental facts.

Social

Conflicts between those states are closely linked to the rise of population which means increasing needs. The growth rate averages 2,5% a year in Syria, 1,3% a year in Turkey and 1,8% a year in Iraq.

Environmental

The Tigris and the Euphrates rivers are volatile : they often change course and flow irregularly. Consequently, the management of these rivers is very tough.

What is more, these rivers are used not only by private individuals but also by economic activities such as farms, factories…

Furthermore, the quality and the quantity of available water is reduced by the population growth, urbanization, industrialization and the lack of environmentally sensitive technology.

This can make us think about a new crucial issue ‘transboundary pollution’.

Water represents 1,3% of the Turkish area, 0,06% of the Syrian area, 1,1% of the Iraqi area [France : 0,26%].