This seems a very simplistic attitude to global warming!! Do the Turkish government think that global warming will not affect them purely because they have enough water?

"The new minister of environment and forestry, Veysel Eroğlu, says that Turkey has the resources to withstand the effects of climate change.

Minister Eroğlu said Turkey had taken precautions against global warming, explaining that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government had two targets -- one set for 2013 and the other for 2023. “By the year 2010 and 2013 the water needs of our entire country will be met. There will be no water shortages after those years,” he noted.

Eroğlu said the government had developed projects to be finished by the years 2040 and 2050, explaining that in larger cities some of these 30-year projects could be finished as early as 2023. “In my opinion, global warming does not threaten Turkey. *There is a solution for everything as long as one takes the necessary measures,”the minister said.

Minister Eroğlu continued by saying: “We have much more water for drinking and agriculture than we need in our country. We have 10 times the amount of water that we need. What’s important is using this water effectively. If water needs to be moved between basins, then lakes and dams should be constructed. The government is encouraging citizens to use water conserving irrigation techniques and is giving farmers loans with good terms [to that end].”

03.09.2007
Today’s Zaman Ankara

* This is both arrogant and naive!!

Don't worry...global warming will 'skip' Turkey! Yeah, politicians are funny when they don't pay attention to science. What about it's affect on Tourism on the coasts...or poor Istanbul surrounded by water. I'm talking about water levels rising significantly due to the melting of the polar ice caps. That isn't an 'if' that is a 'when' about them melting. If you don't believe me ask some poor polar bears!

Funny, the village that my husband's family lives in has seen no rain in more than 3 months, at least not enough to water the orange trees. The Soke River has dried up and is the lowest it has been in memory...where is all this water? I hope somebody wakes up soon!!

Meanwhile they show horror scenarios on atv haber where they state that Turkey will be a desert in the future