Turkish water works minister: cooperation is a priority for water safety in the world

ISTANBUL (A.A) – March 5, 2012 – Turkish Forestry & Water Works Minister Veysel Eroglu has said that regional and international cooperation as well as effective management of water were important to deal with the problem of water safety in the world. Water shortage, pressure on water resources, disasters and problems about water are increasing each day, added Eroglu who spoke at a meeting of ministers on water of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Monday. Eroglu said that Turkey believed that water was a source of cooperation and friendship among neighboring and regional countries, adding that Turkey, so far, signed many agreements on water management with its neighbors including Iraq, Syria and Greece. Turkey signed 30 agreements on water, meteorology and forestry with 15 OIC member states, said Eroglu, adding that talks on four agreements were also under way. We are ready to share our knowledge and experience about forestry in international arena, said Eroglu. Eroglu said that Turkey also helped providing water for nearly 930,000 people in Sudan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Niger.