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Leaked diplomatic cables from US embassies published to date by Wikileaks give an indication of US political interests in international water issues. These generally relate to transboundary water disputes and terrorism, corruption, political instability, and US business interests.
Transboundary water disputes and terrorism
When US Senator John Kerry spoke to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on 16 February 2010, he suggested that “cooperation on counter terrorism with the Indians could lead to Indian compromises on key Pakistani issues such as Kashmir and water use” [1]. Pakistan claims that the Baglihar Dam in the Indian-administered part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir is obstructing the flow of the Chenab river into their country [2].
A 2006 cable on the bioterror threat in India, quoted experts saying that biological warfare agents would be diluted in municipal water supplies, but could threaten smaller bodies of water such as apartment water tanks, urban water trucks and rural wells [3].
Published on: 01/03/2011
Wikileaks logo
Leaked diplomatic cables from US embassies published to date by Wikileaks give an indication of US political interests in international water issues. These generally relate to transboundary water disputes and terrorism, corruption, political instability, and US business interests.
Transboundary water disputes and terrorism
When US Senator John Kerry spoke to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on 16 February 2010, he suggested that “cooperation on counter terrorism with the Indians could lead to Indian compromises on key Pakistani issues such as Kashmir and water use” [1]. Pakistan claims that the Baglihar Dam in the Indian-administered part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir is obstructing the flow of the Chenab river into their country [2].
A 2006 cable on the bioterror threat in India, quoted experts saying that biological warfare agents would be diluted in municipal water supplies, but could threaten smaller bodies of water such as apartment water tanks, urban water trucks and rural wells [3].
In May 2009, US Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg urged Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to put “Israel’s best face forward in the West Bank, and to work with the PA [Palestinian Authority] on water issues, conservation and health”. Netanyahu replied that Israel was examining 100 projects that it might support in the West Bank, including water projects [4]. A 2008 cable revealed that water management was one of the priority areas of the US National HUMINT (Human Intelligence) Collection Directive (NHCD) on Palestinian Issues [5].
In October 2009, Egypt's Water Minister was reported to be seeking U.S. and other donor involvement to help resolve the impasse over the Nile Basin Initiative's (NBI) proposed Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). “The Egyptian Water Minister doubts that the World Bank can play a constructive role in the future of the NBI and blames the Bank for the current impasse”, says a cable from the US Embassy in Cairo [6].
Corruption
Several cables report on water-related corruption. “Reading like a John Gisham novel”, the mysterious death in Eritrea in 2007 of businessman Fikremariam "Fikre" Andemariam, whose company won a disputed tender for the installation of water pipes in the Eritrean capital Asmara, allegedly was the lead up to an assassination attempt on National Security Agency Deputy Colonel Simon Ghebredenghil. According to a 2007 cable, the affair illustrated the deep-rooted corruption within the military when awarding government contracts [7].
A 2008 cable mentions the Egyptian military's strong influence in country's economy, stating that “military-owned companies, often run by retired generals, are particularly active in the water, olive oil, cement, construction, hotel and gasoline industries” [8].
A Swiss/Israeli company's water project in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan is mentioned in a 2006 cable as one of the projects allegedly arranged by local mafia boss Salim Abduvaliyev [9].
A 2010 cable from Russia noted that corruption in the small and medium business sector (SME) was declining in all areas except real estate. A survey of 40 entrepreneurs revealed that bribes were still required “to win the bid for a site, get permits to develop it, get the site hooked up to the municipal electric and water supply, and construct buildings” [10].
Political instability
In 2008, US embassy personnel in Peru identified water issues - insufficient amounts of potable water, irrigation and the contamination of Lake Titicaca - as a source of social conflict in the southern highland region of Puno. The region’s “proximity to Bolivia and similar ethnic composition [...] make it susceptible to some of the radical events taking place in that country” [11].
President Guelleh of Djibouti is reported to have urged ministers of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, according to a 2009 cable, to deliver basic services such as security and water because “winning sustainable support from the populace, not the international community, was key”[12].
US business interests
In February 2010, the US Ambassador in Tripoli discussed the new water tax for international oil companies (IOCs) with Shokri Ghanam, head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC). The Ambassador contended that the tax was a breach of contract as IOC agreements included free access to water. Water is used in operations for re-injection into reservoirs. In reply, Ghanam stated that use of freshwater is included in Libya’s Petroleum Law. He hinted that IOCs were using too much freshwater which was otherwise needed for consumption and irrigation [13].
[1] CODEL Kerry’s meeting with PM Gilani. 19 Feb 2010. ID: 10ISLAMABAD399
[2] Naveed Ahmad, India-Pakistan: Troubled water, ISN Security Watch, 06 Nov 2008
[3] India behind on bioterror preparations but taking some steps. 08 Jun 2006. ID: 06NEWDELHI3997
[4] CODELs Ackerman and Casey meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu. 02 Jun 2009. ID: 09TELAVIV1184
[5] Reporting and collection needs: Palestinian issues. 31 Oct 2008. ID: 08STATE116392
[6] Egyptian Water Minister on the Nile Basin Initiative. 04 Oct 2009. ID: 09CAIRO1897
[7] Asmara assassination attempt: more details emerge. 26 Oct 2001. ID: 07ASMARA850
[8] Academics see the military in decline, but retaining strong influence. 23 Sep 2008, ID: 08CAIRO2091
[9] Mafia boss fixes GOU tenders and jobs. 05 May 2006. ID: 06TASHKENT902
[10] Small businesses report some easing in corruption. 20 Jun 2007. ID: 07MOSCOW2981
[11] Puno update: water issues add to instability. 23 Oct 2008. ID: 08LIMA1707
[12] 09DJIBOUTI1425 Embassy Djibouti 2009-12-27 12:12:00. 27 Dec 2009. ID: 09DJIBOUTI1425
[13] Shokri Ghanem outlines plans for Libya's National Oil Corporation. 11 Feb 2010. ID: 10TRIPOLI116
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