Equitable and Reasonable Use of Water in the Euphrates-Tigris River Basin

14 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2006

See all articles by Elizabeth Burleson

Elizabeth Burleson

BurlesonInstitute.org; London School of Economics (LSE)

Abstract

The geopolitics of the Euphrates-Tigris River Basin are marked by a scarcity of both water and trust. Management of transboundary water resources has become one of the most significant challenges to the international community. Limited territorial sovereignty is emerging as a customary rule of international law and is supported by the Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, the Gabcikovo-Nagymaro case, a growing number of regional water treaties, and the majority of the most highly qualified scholars. The International Court of Justice has condemned unilateral action. Joint water management commissions and authorities enhance adaptable co-riparian cooperation. By establishing a comprehensive set of procedural rules, international water law provides a framework within which States can exchange technical information and notification of water projects. Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey can avert conflict over increasing water scarcity by crafting integrated water resources measures based on equitable and sustainable utilization.

Keywords: International Water Law, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Conflict Resolution, Water Scarcity, Reasonable and Equitable Water Utilization, Joint Water Management, Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, Adaptable Co-riparian Cooperation, UN, Dispute Resolution

JEL Classification: F0, H4, I18, K32, K33, L92, O00, O3, Q1, Q2, Z00

Suggested Citation

Burleson, Elizabeth, Equitable and Reasonable Use of Water in the Euphrates-Tigris River Basin. Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 35, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=927357

Elizabeth Burleson (Contact Author)

BurlesonInstitute.org ( email )

London School of Economics (LSE) ( email )

Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

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