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FightING ILISU DAM - SAVE HASANKEYF AND TIGRIS VALLEY |
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Welcome to the Homepage of the „Initative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive“ |
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Ilisu Summit in Berlin with international participation - Press Release (28.05.2009) |
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*Ilisu dam project on the Tigris:*
*International Standards not reached despite ultimatum.*
*Cultural heritage doomed to be lost.*
Berlin, May 28^th 2009 -- 40 days before the deadline of a 6-months-ultimatum, indications grow that Turkey is unable to fulfil the main conditions for the Ilisu dam project. Attempts to at least save parts of the ancient city of Hasankeyf seem to have been abandoned completely. According to World Bank expert Robert Goodland, the entire project is not in line with World Bank standards. He recommends a withdrawal of the European project participants.
On the occasion of the "Ilisu Summit", an international conference concerning the Ilisu dam in Berlin on May 28th, Robert Goodland, who developed the World Bank's social and environmental standards, criticised the Ilisu dam project for not complying with these standards as promised: "The World Bank would reject this project. The impacts are too severe; the preparations by Turkey are by far insufficient. Even Europe's conditions for the project are not adequate to protect the affected 60,000 people, unique cultural treasures and the environment."
Germany, Austria and Switzerland had repeatedly argued that with the 153 conditions they had attached to their export credit guarantees, the project would comply with World Bank standards. In fact this is not the case. "If the European states continue their involvement in this project, they will undermine the standards that the World Bank has put in place and they will set a bad example internationally", Mr. Goodland continued.
In December 2008, the three countries ordered the suspension of delivery contracts for the project, as the Turkish government grossly violated the conditions tied to the guarantees. This also put on hold the loans provided by Société Générale, Unicredit/Bank Austria and German DekaBank. Behind closed doors, intensive negotiations continue. Just recently Turkey submitted new reports which seemed to indicate that some of the conditions had been complied with. However, the reality at the site is disillusioning. Heike Drillisch and Christine Eberlein from the "Stop Ilisu" Campaign visited the region last week. As they discovered, no plans exist to save the ancient city of Hasankeyf. The promised relocation of single monuments is not possible. "Even the Turkish specialists admit that they see no way to rescue the most important monuments. This means that the people of Hasankeyf, who live mainly of tourism-income, will lose their means of existence without any replacement," said Heike Drillisch. A detailed resettlement plan exists for only six villages; the remaining 190 villages are still unaccounted for.
"On July 6th, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have to abandon the project if they don't want to lose face internationally. These days it is especially important to show strength of character instead of giving in to short-term economic interests," Ulrich Eichelmann from the Campaign "Stop Ilisu" added.
Hasan Janabi, former Consultant for the Iraqi Water Ministry, draws attention to the devastating effects the dam will have in Iraq. If the dam is built, districts in Iraq lying downstream from the dam will receive significantly less water than they do now; the water they do receive will be of very poor quality. Millions of people in Iraq depend on the Tigris River for their livelihood. Equally affected will be one of the world's most significant natural habitats, the Mesopotamian Delta. If the dam is built, its marshes will dry out. "The Ilisu dam would cause great damage in Iraq; it would endanger peace and stability in the Middle East", said Hasan Janabi. "Unfortunately the protests by Iraqi politicians have remained unheard by the European decision-makers.
This is not acceptable."
Nejdet Atalay, mayor of the city of Batman (population 300,000), travelled to Berlin to represent the people in the affected region. "We don't want this project. Hasankeyf is more than just an ancient town. It is a central part of our identity and the economic future of our entire region. There are many alternatives to Ilisu", stated Atalay, who advocates for the formation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in and around Hasankeyf. He continued to emphasize that the Turkish government has up to this time not contacted the city, even though tens of thousands of people will move to Batman if the dam is constructed, increasing social tensions.
Güven Eken, president of the Turkish environmental organisation Doga Dernegi, emphasized the impending ecological disaster and criticised the fact that there has never been an environmental impact assessment, as would be the case for even a minor power plant in Europe. "We cannot understand why the German government wants to participate in a project which they would never force onto their own citizens or their own environment. If the European states pull out of the project, we have a great chance to stop Ilisu completely. But even if they stay in, we will stop Ilisu. The support for our campaign by the Turkish population is growing day by day."
The Ilisu Summit took place on May 28th in the Auditorium Friedrichstrasse in Berlin. Other participating guests were a representative of the Federal Ministry of Economics, and the Turkish Popstar Tarkan, a strong supporter of the campaign "Stop Ilisu".
*Contact:* Ulrich Eichelmann (ECA Watch Austria), ulrich.eichelmann@eca-watch.at <mailto:ulrich.eichelmann@eca-watch.at>, 0043 676 662 1512 Heike Drillisch (CounterCurrent, Germany), heike.drillisch@gegenstroemung.org <mailto:heike.drillisch@gegenstroemung.org>, 0049 177 345 2611 Christine Eberlein (Berne Declaration, Schweiz) ceberlein@evb.ch <mailto:ceberlein@evb.ch>, www.evb.ch/ilisu <http://www.evb.ch/ilisu>, 0041 794 263 056 <mailto:e.ayboga@gmx.net>, 0049 163 757 7847
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