news.am, Armenia
July 30 2011

Turkey locks neighbors’ water – Armenian expert

July 30, 2011 | 18:02

YEREVAN. – Armenia disposes the abundance of its water resources not
effectively, said expert in Physical Geography and Hydrometeorology
Ashot Khoetsyan to a press conference on Saturday.

According to him, most of water supplies of Armenia freely flow to the
neighboring republics.

“It is not a secret that 40 – 50% of the water resources of Azerbaijan
are formed in Armenia but we simply let this water go without even
using it for the benefit of agriculture,’ he said.

In contrast to Armenia, Turkey, having greater financial and technical
capabilities, has established powerful hydraulic units on the upper
reaches of Tigris and Euphrates, the major sources of water for
neighboring Syria and Jordan.

“During the summer months, when neighboring countries are particularly
dependent on water, Turkey might anytime close the sluices on these
rivers and put these countries on the brink of acute crisis,’ noted
Khoetsyan.