Protecting Iraq's water security in accordance with the rules of international law

Abstract

The international character of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers makes the exploitation of their waters subject to several basic principles binding on the countries sharing the international river course, the most important of which are justice in water distribution, joint use of water, cooperation in developing its resources, and taking into account the acquired rights of each country regarding the quantities of water. Therefore, the countries neighboring Iraq, especially Turkey, are trying not to recognize the international character of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; in order to justify their failure to adhere to the aforementioned basic principles, despite the value of their recognition before the rules of international law regarding the classification of rivers. To confront this arbitrary water policy that violates the rules of international law regarding the exploitation of the waters of international rivers, it is necessary to take several legal, diplomatic and political measures, and to exploit all common files and links with those countries, and to open direct negotiations with them, as well as to present the issue of the dispute to international organizations, in order to reach final solutions that guarantee the right of each country to the waters of the two aforementioned rivers.