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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Sunday that a newly signed financing agreement with Türkiye for water sector cooperation projects represents a sustainable solution to Iraq's deepening water crisis.
The mechanism document, signed to finance projects under the Framework Agreement on Water Cooperation between the two governments, will enable the implementation of major joint project packages aimed at managing water resources and combating resource scarcity, al-Sudani said during the signing ceremony.
"This agreement will be one of the sustainable solutions to the water crisis in Iraq," al-Sudani said, according to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office.
The Iraqi premier emphasized the importance of implementing outcomes agreed upon during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Baghdad last year, noting that the water crisis is a global problem and Iraq is among the countries suffering from it.
Al-Sudani added that the financing mechanism agreement would strengthen bilateral relations with Türkiye, contribute to their development across various fields, and serve the common interests of both countries.
The agreement comes as Iraq faces severe water shortages, with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—which originate in Türkiye—experiencing reduced flow in recent years due to upstream dam construction, climate change, and increased water consumption.
During a separate official visit to Iraq, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held meetings with Iraqi House of Representatives Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan, according to diplomatic sources.
Iraqi President Abdullatif Rashid received Fidan and his accompanying delegation in Baghdad, where discussions covered bilateral relations, cooperation opportunities in various fields, regional developments, and efforts to strengthen regional security and stability, the Iraqi Presidential Press Office said.
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Rashid stressed Iraq's commitment to a policy of openness and partnership development, as well as establishing good neighborly relations with regional countries and the world.
The Iraqi president called for adopting a fair water policy that guarantees Iraq's acquired water rights in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation in improving water resource management, reducing waste, and ensuring sustainable water security.
Fidan emphasized Türkiye's determination to strengthen bilateral relations with Iraq and open new horizons for cooperation in various fields, noting the need to expand opportunities that would support mutual interests and increase communication and coordination between the two countries.
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