ABSTRACT

In 1989, even after the Cold War ended, small and medium scale conflicts continue to remain unresolved throughout the world. Most of them are ethnic confrontations, but it is unquestionable that some of them involve economic interests and natural resources. For example, the three countries of Turkey, Iraq and Syria are persecuting the Kurds and these people are trying to establish an independent state. These conflicts have resulted in a great deal of bloodshed, but in the background is also the struggle over a huge amount of underground resources deposits where the Kurds reside. It is said that international oil capitals are also involved. However, the majority of causes for regional conflicts are water resources. I think that the theme of this seminar thus is a very timely one indeed. If solutions to conflicts based on economic interests can be found, it might enable ethnic confrontations, which are historically complicated to also be resolved.