4TH BIENNIAL ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM

ON WATER POLICY (7-8 SEPTEMBER 2004ANKARA)

TURKEY’S WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND TRANSBOUNDARY

WATERS POLICY

Mithat RendeHead of Department,

Regional and Transboundary Waters,Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Ankara

Basic elements of Turkey’s water policy

•Recent developments at global level•Turkey’s present and future water needs•Turkey is not a country rich in water resources

•Turkey as a water stressed country by 2030.•Situated in semi-arid region.•The need for additional water storage capacity.•Turkey’s has fast running rivers.

•Turkey’s growing energy consumption

•Transboundary rivers constitute 40% of Turkey’s water potential.

•The need to regulate the flow to prevent floods

•The need to regulate the flow to relaese water to downstream countries.

THE FOUR MAIN DIMENSIONS OF TURKEY’S WATER POLICY

1) Development of Turkey’s water resources

2) Water transfer from Turkey to water-stressed countries.

3) Turkey’s accession to the EU

4) Turkey’s transboundary water policy

1)Development of Turkey’s Water Resources

The positive environmental consequences of water based projects.

• Reduction in deforestation• Increase in biodiversity• Major contribution to sustainable development

2) Water transfer from Turkey to Water-stressed Countries in the region

•Middle East will face water shortage in 25 years.

• Freshwater is available in SoutheasternTurkey

•Water transfer by sea

•Water transfer by pipelines.

Manavgat Water Supply Project

•Capable of exporting 180 million m3 of water per annum.•Can be expanded to meet additional demand.•Agreement between Turkey and Israel •Water will be shipped by purpose-built tankers.•Easing the pressure on the Jordan River Basin.

PEACE PIPELINE PROJECT

• Water transfer to the Middle East from the Seyhan and the Ceyhan rivers.

• 2.2 billion m3 of freshwater will be transferred per year.

• The project is feasible and applicable.

• Contribution to peace and security in the Middle East.

3)Turkey’s Accession to the EU

• Starting accession talks with the EU in 2005.

• “National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan” adopted.

• Harmonization of domestic legislation with that of the EU.

• Two working groups on water resources

• Working group 1: new water legislation

• Working group 2: restructuring of the Turkish water institutions.

4) Turkey’s Transboundary Water Policy

•Consistent and transparent.•Equitable,reasonable and optimal utilization•Efficient use of transboundary waters.•Sharing the benefits of transboundary waters.•Cooperation among riparian States.•Sharing of information and data