Turkey is taking advantage of its abundant supply of freshwater as a bargaining chip not only to help preserve national integrity but also to help its economy thrive, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran and an expert on Turkey said.
"The Southeastern Anatolian Project— aka GAP—has dramatically depleted water outflows of Euphrates-Tigris basins and upper Mesopotamia plains, spelling trouble for Iran, Syria and Iraq, yet Turkish official insist on their position that the venture is necessary to preserve unity among ethno-religious groups, including Turks and Kurds," Seyyed Asadollah Athari was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
GAP is a multi-sectoral regional development project based on the concept of sustainable development that is aimed at eliminating regional disparities by raising people's income and living standards.
According to the expert, the plan covers such sectors as irrigation, hydraulic energy, agriculture, urban and rural infrastructure, forestry, education and health.
The plan envisages the construction of 22 dams and 19 power plants and irrigation schemes encompassing 1.7 million hectares. The total cost of the project is about $32 billion.
Athari noted that as the plan is completed and the region's economic conditions improve, the Turkish government can establish better relations with the Kurds, most of whom are residing in underdeveloped regions in Turkey.
"Although the transcontinental Eurasian country is deprived of hydrocarbon reserves, its rich water resources have given it a political advantage to force its neighbors, namely Syria and Iraq, to cut relations with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with which it has serious security issues," he said.
"Interestingly, both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have provided GAP with huge loans as they believe the venture can help fight the spread of violence and terrorism in the region because it helps the economy boom in Turkey's underdeveloped areas."
On the other hand, environmental activists consider GAP a "regional massacre" as it gradually destroys the ecosystem in neighboring states like Iran and jeopardizes the lives of millions of people whose life depends on the water outflows from Euphrates -Tigris basins.
On Iran's reluctance to adopt a firm stance against GAP, Athari said Tehran has a special political cooperation with Ankara, as a global coalition against Iran is being formed by the US that is about to reimpose economic sanctions on the country over its nuclear program.
"Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi, have held constructive talks with Turkey, yet it is not enough. Tehran should remain vigilant about the impending danger threatening not only its environment but also its civilization," he said.
The expert emphasized that the threat of water crisis weighs as much as terrorism, and ignoring such a critical issue will have irreversible consequences.
"Turkey has long-term plans to sell freshwater to potential customers like Israel and the Persian Gulf littoral states and detailed regulations have been set in this regard," he said.
Referring to Turks' unwillingness to be a part of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Athari noted that such agreements put Turks' national interests in danger and they will never sacrifice them by signing such treaties.
"Turks do not pursue national interests ideologically. What matters to them is economic viability of their ongoing mega plans," he said.
