Fair exploitation of Aras border river from the point of view of international law

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 19 - 31, 03.07.2024

Mohammad Musazadeh

Abstract

The Turkish government is trying to justify the construction of numerous dams on the Aras River by citing the principle of absolute territorial sovereignty, but in general, the principle of a country's absolute sovereignty over the river has been rejected by international law thinkers and governments. According to these principles, no country should stop or divert the natural flow of river water that naturally flows from its territory to the territory of another country, and should not use that river or the normal use of that river in a way that causes damage to the neighboring country. It is closed in its own land. It seems that international laws and documents based on them oblige governments to protect their rights in cases that have border waters, and the construction of many dams by the Turkish government is unjustified. The results show that based on the fair exploitation of border rivers and shared in international law, solutions and approaches based on the cooperation regime, the ways of fair exploitation of Aras border river can be operationalized and implemented. Guaranteeing the right to fair use of border and common rivers in international law includes general and specific guarantees. In international law, rules such as rational and wise use, fair and reasonable exploitation, and the obligation not to cause serious harm in the use of border and common rivers, including the Aras River, govern.

Keywords

Border and shared rivers, Fair utilization Iran, Türkiye, Aras River

Project Number

-

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