ANTALYA - Turkish State Water Works (DSI) Director General Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroglu has said that they could sell water also to Greek islands under the Manavgat Peace Water Project if there was such a demand.
Speaking to the A.A on Tuesday, Eroglu gave information on the ''Manavgat Peace Water Project'' and ''Cross Border Rivers''.
Recalling that they had handed over the Manavgat Peace Water Facilities of which construction had finished four years ago and cost 147 million U.S. dollars to the Turkish Privatization Administration Board (OIB), Eroglu said, ''our duty is to hand over the facilities as soon as possible to the authorities under the government's orders. We constructed the dam and purification plants in Manavgat and oversea water purification plants. The OIB will privatize the operation right of the Manavgat Water. As far as I know that sale of water has not started yet.''
Eroglu said that also North African countries Morocco and Algeria had demanded to purchase water in addition to Israel under the ''Manavgat Peace Water Facilities Project''.
Noting that water could be sold also to Greek island under the project, Eroglu said, ''meetings are under way with Morocco and Algeria. A delegation came from Morocco. They will evaluate their demand. Water may be given also to Greek islands. Greece has not made such a demand yet. Water can be given also to Greek islands if there is such a demand.''
Eroglu said that they could build a dam on the Asi River (Orontes) together with Syria.
Stressing that the dialogue between the Turkish and Syrian peoples had developed, Eroglu said, 'we are even planning to make several joint investments. Our aim is to find ways of solution which all countries can benefit about water issue.''
''We can cooperate with Syria in construction of a dam on Asi River. Our Foreign Ministry and Syrian officials are holding meetings on this issue,'' he said.
In order to supply freshwater to the cities along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and to the countries in the region facing water scarcity, Turkey developed the Manavgat Water Supply Project on the Manavgat River, a national river of Turkey flowing into the Mediterranean Sea.
The installation of on-shore components for the treatment and storage of water and off-shore components for loading water onto tankers was completed in 1997 at a cost of 147 million U.S. dollars. The daily water treatment capacity of the Manavgat Water Supply Project is 500,000 m3. Manavgat River has an annual water potential of 3.6 billion m3. If needed, more water could be extracted from the river by increasing the capacity of the installations.
Desalinization may be an alternative for supplying fresh water to water stressed countries in the region. However, the water quality of the Manavgat River is far superior to desalinated water and the desalination process is not environmentally friendly.
Water is one of the key factors in the Middle East Peace Process. In order to make a positive contribution to this ongoing process, Turkey has offered to supply fresh water from the Manavgat River to interested parties. So far, Israel has expressed an interest in purchasing 50 million m3 of treated water. In this respect, negotiations between Turkey and Israel have been ongoing since June of 2000.
For the transfer of water from the Manavgat River to Israel, it was concluded that the most convenient means of transportation for such a long distance was via super-tanker. However, new water tankers would need to be built or large oil tankers would need to undergo a special conversion process in order to maintain the quality of the water being transported. If it is realized, this transfer of water from Turkey to Israel will be the first such undertaking in the world.
(MS-AÖ) 11.05.2004