Hasankeyf to sink in dam reservoir
Inforadio, 15.05.2007
World Bank did not want it, UK did not want it, but Germany made it possible – the construction of Ilisu dam. It can now start. Germany has given credit guarantees, ca. 200 mio German tax payers’ money. 55 000 people to be resettled, cultural site destroyed, environment damaged. But not only this. According to experts the project sharpens water conflict in middle east and violates international law. The riparian states Iraq and Syria were not comprehensively informed, many details were not negotiated.
Hasankeyf is more than 3.000 Kilometer away from Berlin as the crow flies. Government in Berlin has co-decided – Hasankeyf shall soon not exist anymore. ….. Turkey could shut off the water for Syria and Iraq one day, says Heike Drillisch, ….
Quarrel over Ilisu for many years, should be built in 2000, protests stopped it, World Bank and British Consortium withdrew. … Turkey depends on help from abroad. … In March German government decided to give guarantee. Consent by Iraq and Syria were a condition, says German gov’t.
„Irak and Syria were comprehensively informed by Turkey“, says a press release by German Economics Ministry. The Ilisu project had been the subject of talks between Turkey and its neighboring countries several times last year only, says the Economics Ministry on request.
But the Iraqi water minister Latif Rashid objects: „We have not beeen consulted comprehensively on Ilisu and we did not consent to the operational management for the dam“, he says in an interview with british environmentalists.
According to research by Rundfunks Berlin Brandenburg (RBB), a first talk on ministerial level took place on 22. März 2007. At this meeting it was arranged that >from July 2007 on the technical data of the project will be negotiated. This has been a meeting to arrange for negotiations, says Heike Drillisch von Weed. E.g. there had not yet been negotiations on how much water must pass the dam, so that Iraq does not suffer from water shortage. A central issue which is decisive for Iraq’s consent to the project.
The decision of the German government is a violation of international law, says Heike Drillisch. According to a UN-Konvention riparian states need to be informed and consulted beforehand. That this had not taken place, is also criticized by the Green MP Ute Koczy: „The approval by the German gov’t is based on premature conclusions. Now it has a foreign policy problem“, she says.
Opponents of the project criticize the intransparent procedure. In Germany every creek is assessed more closely, they say. But Hasankeyf is more than 3000 Kilometer away from Berlin. And there are worlds in between.
Dokumentation zum Hintergrundbericht vom 15.05.2007
Englisches Dokument zum Staudamm-Projekt
Minutes of a Meeting
In response to an invitation from Dr Mohamed Hilmi Golar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in the Republic of Turkey.
A historical tripartite meeting was held on 22nd of March 2007 in Anatolia attended from Syria by Eng Nadir Al Buna, Minister of Irrigation in the Republic of Syria and Dr Abdel Latif Jamal Rasheed, Minister of Water Resources in the Republic of Iraq.
A friendship and brotherhood and good neighborhood atmosphere characterized the meeting. Views about the how to develop water resources and how to use it fairly and reasonably were exchanged in the meeting. The meeting stressed that the water issue represents a cooperation issue between the three countries.
The Turkish side, as part of the ongoing water projects, presented information to Syrian and Iraqi sides about Ilisu dam. The technical data about the project will be discussed in Damascus in the upcoming meeting of the technical committee. It was confirmed that the afro mentioned projects positive welfare impact in the area.
The ministers of the three countries agreed to continue cooperation and in water issue. In this respect, it was decided to start the tripartite negotiations periodically at technical level so as to activate projects of joint cooperation.
The Syrian side invited the Turkish and Iraqi sides to come to Damascus in July 2007 to resume negotiations at technical and ministerial levels. The specific date will be set later through diplomatic channels. Iraqi and Turkish sides accepted the invitations.
It was agreed that the technical committee will do the preparations for the ministerial meeting. Iraq and Syrian sides expressed their thanks for the warm welcome and hospitality of the Turkish side. The minutes were prepared in the city of Anatolia on 23rd of march 2007 in both Arabic and Turkish version.
For Turkish side
Minister of Energy and natural Resources
Dr. Mohamed Hilmi Golar
for Syrian side
Minister of irrigation
Eng Nadir Al Buna
for Iraqi side
Minister for water resources
Dr Abdel Latif Jamal Rasheed
