Turkey starts building ‘dam of friendship’ with Syria

In an attempt to strength relationships with Syria, Turkey has started the construction of a ‘dam of friendship’ with the country. The Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a groundbreaking ceremony this Sunday for the construction of a dam on a river that flows from Syria to Turkey known as the River Asi. This ceremony was held at the border province of Hatay, where the Turkish citizens were waving the Turkey and Syrian flags.

In his address, the Prime Minister said, “Turkey and Syria are two brothers, and friendly ties between the two will continue forever,” ‘Today, the Asi River ceases to be a border line that separates us, that sets us apart, as it becomes a border line that brings us closer.”

The beginning of construction of this dam, which is dubbed as “the dam of friendship” was a project long delayed project due to disagreements on technical details. On Jan. 7, 2010, it was announced that both countries agreed to build the dam. It has now been decided that the dam will be used exclusively for irrigation purposes and as a flood prevention barrier. After its completion, it will be possible to irrigate 13,334 hectares of land. However, it’s purposes are not just restricted to that. Erdoğan said Turkey and Syria will also jointly use the electricity that the dam produces. It will also be possible to carry out fishery activities and water sports and other recreational activities. The costs of the dam’s operation and maintenance will be covered by the two countries, and each will have an equal share of the responsibility.

Erdoğan, later flew to Aleppo to meet with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. There he mentioned his government’s policy of “zero problems with neighbors, that led to the construction of this dam and a radical transformation in Turkish-Syrian ties with cooperation in almost every field. He said “Turkey will be more peaceful as Syria becomes more peaceful, and Syria will become wealthier as Turkey becomes wealthier,”“We are nations that were made brothers by history. Our destiny has been one and the same for centuries.”