An Assessment of the Water Development Project (GAP) of Turkey: Meeting Its Objectives and EU Criteria for Turkey's Accession
Abstract
The World Commission on Dams (WCD) reports that most of large-scale water development projects around the world fail to achieve their objectives for sustainable human development. Moreover, the EU has set as primary requirements for those states' candidates for full membership, regional stability and respect of human rights in their domestic policies. In 1989, Turkey implemented a multisectoral Water Development Project (GAP) to bring socio-economic development in its undeveloped Southeastern Anatolia region by exploiting the Euphrates and Tigris water. However, the GAP project not only has failed in meeting its objectives, but also has raised more obstacles for Turkey's full membership to the EU. The thesis assesses the GAP project in terms of progress of its objectives by scrutinizing the agricultural energy sector and the socio-economic status of the Southeastern Anatolia region. Additionally, this thesis proceeds to conclude the assessment by focusing on the role of the project in the stability of the region made-up by Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, as well as the status of the internally displaced people as a result of the GAP project, within the context of human rights.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA536617
Entities
People
- Aristotelis Varsamidis
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School