Establishing and proving the international responsibility of the Turkish government regarding the environmental consequences resulting from the implementation of the Gap project

Subject Areas :

Fataneh Dehghani ¹ , Mohsen Dianat ² , فخرالدین سلطانی ³

1 - Department of Public International Law, Qe.C., Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of International Relations, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

Received: 2025-03-26 Accepted : 2025-09-13 Published : 2025-09-20

Keywords: Environmental consequences, international law, Gap Project,

Abstract :

Regarding the implementation of the Gap project by the Turkish government and its severe damage to the environment and its direct impact on the economic and social life of the region, the question arises as to how the international responsibility of the Turkish government can be established and proven. Therefore, the present study, which is of a descriptive-analytical type, was conducted using library and electronic resources and with the aim of examining the possibility of proposing the international responsibility of the Turkish government resulting from the implementation of the Gap project. Although there are no specific international treaties and rules prohibiting the construction of unprincipled and destructive dams, the international responsibility of the Turkish government resulting from the implementation of the Gap project can be established and proven through international custom, the fundamental principles of international environmental law contained in international conventions, judicial practice, and the proposal for the international responsibility of the state resulting from unprohibited acts. Unilateral actions by the Turkish government that cause serious damage to other basin countries will entail international responsibility for the Turkish government, based on the principles of fair and reasonable use of the waterway, non-cause of serious harm, cooperation and the obligation to protect and prevent transboundary damage, environmental impact assessment and prior notification.

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