The First Section is the Legal Reality of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Abstract

Before World War I, the legal reality of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the use of their waters were free of political or economic problems, as the source and mouth of the two rivers were under the sovereignty of one state, the Ottoman Empire. With the exit of both Syria and Iraq from the Ottoman occupation after World War I, Turkey was concerned with the source and upper course of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, while Syria was concerned with the middle course of the Euphrates and Iraq with the middle and lower Tigris River and the mouth and lower course of the Euphrates River. Since then, the region has witnessed political and economic tensions over the use of the waters of these two rivers, as each country seeks to achieve its own water interests. This has led to water disputes between these countries, the development of plans to better manage water resources, and the achievement of consensus and cooperation between these countries.