Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece cooperation necessary to prevent floods

SOFIA (A.A) – Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece should cooperate to prevent floods across the border, experts said on Saturday. Experts said if Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece did not take necessary measures, Meric, Arda and Tunca rivers would continue to overflow and cause floods in the region.  According to experts, floods occur in the region as dams on the rivers cannot be managed well.  Experts said floods were causing millions of Euro harm in the region. There are 14 dams on Arda, Meric and Tunca rivers, and most them are used for electricity generation.  Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria are holding talks for years to develop projects that could prevent floods. During these talks, the three countries set up early warning systems. However, these systems does not prevent floods but minimize loss of life and property.  One of the most important projects to prevent floods in the Turkish northwestern province of Edirne is the Suakacagi dam, planned to be constructed on River Tunca across Turkey-Bulgaria border. However, the project, which has been under discussion since 1968, cannot be fulfilled due to technical, political and economic reasons. Another measure to prevent floods is to clean river beds. According to experts, soil and stones carried from mountains by rivers accumulate across Turkey-Greece border and cause floods.  Experts think that Turkey and Greece should reach a compromise on this issue without losing time. (Reporting by Metin Akin)