Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed the need for his country to obtain its share of full and undiminished water through diplomatic channels and communication with neighboring countries without escalation.
Al-Sudani said – in a speech during the Third Baghdad International Water Conference, held in the Iraqi capital – that saving the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from the dangers of drought requires urgent international intervention.
Al-Sudani said his government has developed a climate strategy that extends to 2030, which will include reducing gas emissions to reduce environmental damage, motivating farmers who use modern irrigation techniques, and using renewable energies.
He added that the water crisis needs cooperation between Iraq and the upstream countries that share water with it, stressing the need for Iraq to obtain its water share without shortage.
He stressed the need to "reach a joint good management with regional countries on the water file, and we are serious about addressing all problems."
Iraqi Minister of Water Resources Aoun Theyab Abdullah said the conference is an opportunity to confront the risks facing water resources and work on water sharing.