5. Case Background
A rather rare circumstance
where two countries put
aside tensions to continue to
cooperate over sharing
water quantity.
Operating under the same
“Protocol on the Beneficial
Uses of Boundary Waters” or
“Kars Protocol” since 1927.
6.
7.
8.
9. Case Backg
Successful Cooperation and Water Sharing
Turkey and Armenia have successfully split the Arpacay River water 50%-50% since
1927.
Arpacay River
• 116 Miles, forms part of Turkey-Armenia Border.
• Formed from Kars River originating in Turkey and the River Ahuryan originating in
Armenia.
• Akhurian Reservoir: surface area of 54km^2 and volume of 525 million cubic
meters.
• Water used for irrigation in three Armenian provinces, and for two Turkish
provinces.
• Part of the Kura-Araks River Basin (covers 190,000 km^2 across five riparian
countries).
Case Background
10.
11.
12. Future Challenges
• Quantity of water addressed, not quality.
• Armenian researchers say the water system (river and reservoir) in polluted
with heavy metals and toxic materials.
• Increasing lack of cooperation between Armenian and Turkish ecologists.
• Lack of local awareness for water-quality issues.
Case Background
13. Overall Water Risk: higher
exposure to water-related
risks and is an aggregated
measure of all selected
indicators.
Baseline Water Stress:
ratio of total annual water
withdrawals to total
available annual renewable
supply, accounting for
upstream consumptive
use. Higher values indicate
more competition among
users.
Flood Occurrence:
number of floods
recorded from 1985-
2011.
Low (0-1)
Medium to high (4-9)
High (10-27)
Extremely high (>27)
15. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
16. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
17. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
1973: Agreement dealing with border issues and regulations for tributaries.
18. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
1973: Agreement dealing with border issues and regulations for tributaries.
1975: Dam construction begins.
19. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
1973: Agreement dealing with border issues and regulations for tributaries.
1975: Dam construction begins.
1986: Dam construction complete.
20. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
1973: Agreement dealing with border issues and regulations for tributaries.
1975: Dam construction begins.
1986: Dam construction complete.
1990: Agreement on technical cooperation, river bed changes, joint hydropower facilities.
21. Timeline: Historical, Regional, Political
1927: USSR signs treaties with Turkey over Arpacay River, “Protocol on the Beneficial Uses
of Boundary Waters.” Provides water-allocation rules between co-riparians, equally
splitting the river 50%-50%.
1964: Countries commit to joint construction of Arpacay dam on the river, containing
rules for equitable sharing of water and establishment of a joint commission to operate
infrastructure.
1973: Agreement dealing with border issues and regulations for tributaries.
1975: Dam construction begins.
1986: Dam construction complete.
1990: Agreement on technical cooperation, river bed changes, joint hydropower facilities.
1991: USSR falls, Armenia becomes an independent country.
22. 1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
23. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates, border closes.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
24. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates, border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
25. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates , border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2004: Turkey and Armenia create a Turkish-Armenian inter-state commission on the use
of the Arpacay Dam.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
26. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates , border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2004: Turkey and Armenia create a Turkish-Armenian inter-state commission on the use
of the Arpacay Dam.
2008 Russian-Georgian War demonstrates Armenia’s dependence, as they compromise
sole Russian trading route and keep Turkey and Azerbaijan borders closed.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
27. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates , border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2004: Turkey and Armenia create a Turkish-Armenian inter-state commission on the use
of the Arpacay Dam.
2008 Russian-Georgian War demonstrates Armenia’s dependence, as they compromise
sole Russian trading route and keep Turkey and Azerbaijan borders closed.
2009: Turkey bids for EU accession, new obstacles strain relations with Armenia as Turkey
wants to be a “regional leader.”
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
28. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates , border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2004: Turkey and Armenia create a Turkish-Armenian inter-state commission on the use
of the Arpacay Dam.
2008 Russian-Georgian War demonstrates Armenia’s dependence, as they compromise
sole Russian trading route and keep Turkey and Azerbaijan borders closed.
2009: Turkey bids for EU accession, new obstacles strain relations with Armenia as Turkey
wants to be a “regional leader.”
2014: Armenian government expresses willingness to collaborate in construction of joint,
multipurpose dam (The Surmalu Dam) on Araks River.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
29. 1993: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Armenia and Azerbaijan) escalates, border closes.
1994: Cease-fire ends six year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2004: Turkey and Armenia create a Turkish-Armenian inter-state commission on the use
of the Arpacay Dam.
2008 Russian-Georgian War demonstrates Armenia’s dependence, as they compromise
sole Russian trading route and keep Turkey and Azerbaijan borders closed.
2009: Turkey bids for EU accession, new obstacles strain relations with Armenia as Turkey
wants to be a “regional leader.”
2014: Armenian government expresses willingness to collaborate in construction of joint,
multipurpose dam (The Surmalu Dam) on Araks River.
February 2015: Armenian President refused to ratify agreement between countries to,
among other things, reopen the border.
1990s: Turkey and Armenia at an impasse in their relations, though continue to
implement old water treaties signed before USSR collapse.
34. • Arpacay Dam of importance for both Armenia and Turkey:
o Storage capacity allows Turkey to irrigate Igdir plain;
o Armenia’s agriculture dependent on irrigation.
• Armenia sees itself as a “successor state” of the USSR, therefore bound to
any agreement the USSR made.
• Turkey’s vision of becoming a “regional leader” pushes it to adopt
overarching foreign policy objectives focused on regional stability.
• Adoption of more treaties throughout the Cold War signals Armenia and
Turkey’s dedication to adaptable solutions.
36. • Lack of legal framework for transboundary cooperation.
• Absence of agreement on water quality standards and water protection.*
• Lack of data sharing.*
• Turkey’s new water development projects will affect flow patterns and
availability to freshwater ecosystems downstream.
• Precipitation and river run-off expected to decrease to 20% by 2030
(increasing threat of floods and droughts).
• How best to educate the local population given the lack of environmental
organizations on the Turkish side of the reservoir.*
*Potential for value creation and joint fact-finding with help of neutral party.
37. 1. International Treaties; Basin Coordinating; Committees or Councils (Joint
Boundary Water Commission).
2. Equal cost sharing; Memoranda of Understanding and protocols; Joint
Technical Committee.
3. Single Sector Operational or Implementation Plan; periodic reviews; site
visits; frequent negotiations.
40. Altingoz, et al. “Promoting Development in Shared River Basins.” Open Knowledge Repository, World Bank,
Washington, DC, 1 Mar. 2018, openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29449.
“Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas.” Shifting to Renewable Energy Can Save U.S. Consumers Money | World Resources
Institute, www.wri.org/resources/maps/aqueduct-water-risk-atlas.
“AQUASTAT - FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture.” Fao.org, FAO of the UN,
www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries_regions/ARM/index.stm.
Kramer, Annika, et al. Turkey's Water Policy National Frameworks and International Cooperation. Springer Berlin
Heidelberg, 2011.
“Turkey-Armenia: Water Cooperation Despite Tensions | ECC Factbook.” Factbook / Map, 16 Jan. 2018,
factbook.ecc-platform.org/conflicts/turkey-armenia-water-cooperation-despite-tensions
“Turkey-Armenia: Water-Quality Challenges | ECC Factbook.” Factbook / Map, 16 Jan. 2018, factbook.ecc-
platform.org/conflicts/turkey-armenia-water-quality-challenges.
References
Editor's Notes
ADDRESSING CONFLICT, INSTITUTIONS SET IN PLACE TO ENHANCE COOPERATION
