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 The BBC's Chris Morris reports"Turkey has something right here that its neighbours desperately need"  real 28k  |
One of the most important long term issues in the Middle East peace process is water.
Some observers believe it is the most likely cause of a future war in the region.
However, there are alternatives -Turkey believes it can supply fresh water from its southern coast to the entire region.
The Manavgat river tumbles down towards the Mediterranean - nearly five billion cubic metres of water every year.
 A water treatment plant is in place
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By international standards, Turkey may not have a huge amount of water, but by the standards of the Middle East, it is rich indeed. Dry, arid countries across the region are running out of the most basic commodity they need to sustain human life.
A treatment plant could offer one solution. Treated water from the Manavgat will flow down a pipeline to the sea, where converted supertankers will carry it across the Mediterranean.
 Jordan's King Abdullah (right) is a potential customer
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Countries as far away as Libya and Malta are seen as potential targets.
Mustafa Altundal of the Manavgat Water Project says the project is ready to go.
Local people only need a fraction of the fresh water that is available in this region.
Middle Eastern leaders are interested in what Turkey has to offer - King Abdullah of Jordan was here just this month.
Money, though, is still an issue. The Jordanians favour a regional scheme involving Israel and the Palestinians as well.
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"If Jordan and Israel decide to import water, this will take six to nine months because they have to build some unloading stations and the tankers have to be transformed into water-carrying tankers. But in 2001, we could see water transportation," he says.
A pilot project this summer will take water to northern Cyprus.
Turkey says this river can become a source of regional stability.
Turkey has no interest in using water as a weapon. Turkey as far as I can see will be a water-seller in the 21st century  |
Hussein Bagci, Middle east Technical University
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Hussein Bagci of the Middle East Technical University argues that the problem can be solved when more reasonable governments emerge in Damascus and Baghdad.
"Turkey has no interest in using water as a weapon," says Mr Bagci.
"Turkey as far as I can see will be a water-seller in the 21st century. There is not way out and when you take about all the prices in the international markets, maybe in 10 years time, we will be talking about water prices."
 Water export could build bridges in the Middle East
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However, this is about building bridges throughout the Middle East; and about Turkey making some money from a new export market.
Eventually, it hopes to earn several $100m a year selling fresh water supplies.
But Turkey has something right here that its neighbours desperately need.
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