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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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Condemning of signing of the contracts between DSI and consortium for on Ilisu Dam (15.08.2007) |
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To Media and Public Opinion
Yesterday a commercial contract for construction of the Ilisu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant project was signed between Directorate General for Water Works (DSI) and the Ilisu Consortium made up of 14 companies responsible for the building of dam. The latest information gathered yesterday, it is expected that a different agreement will be signed relating to credits between banks, DSI (and consortium). Thus, there will be one more obstacle removed for final agreement between the Credit Export Agencies (CEA) of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and DSI. However, in order for this to finalise, ECA’s need up to several weeks to evaluate these two agreements. That is to say, from the news gained yesterday, in order for Ilisu project to be realized all the problems and signatures are not completed. But with these steps, possibility of the starting years of financial uncertainty of the project due to vast damage on culture, nature and social destruction will be increased after these signatures.
Yesterday Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler stated the Ilisu Dam Project is a symbol of determination. We would like to ask at this point: Why are you so insistent on Ilisu Project, when all the public opinion, effected people, technical data, scientific researches are denying. Why the unique antique city of Hasankeyf with a history of more than 9 thousand years and hundreds of archaeological sites are flooded under water, for this you are changing codes and practices and breaking many laws (we see the movement of monuments as unrealistic approach). Why one of the naturally least affected river-echo system Tigris Valley is to be flooded under water with extraordinary creature and richness and changing climate upside-down? Why are you putting our health at risk with a dam reservoir by such low quality water?
All of this for 50 years of expensive energy production? All of this for employing 150 people in mid-term? Whereas this energy and regional developments alternatives are many, but not for Hasankeyf and Dicle…
Again Mr. Guler claim the Ilisu project is in the norms of EU norms and World Bank. Not us but tens of experts are denying this fact. It is obvious that public opinion is blinded in this disadvantageous project. Insight all mentioned norms are disregarded, we will be explaining these facts very soon. Dear Mr. Guler, if you were aiming to create a project at international level why have you never been in dialogue with us, with public, and affected people, why have you always been avoiding.
Dear Minister Hilmi Guler, if you don’t give up from Ilisu Project we will carry on to show our determination. If the construction starts we will try to stop it, even if the construction of the dam completed we will try to stop holding of the water. We will use every legal and democratic rights up until we change the society’s, public opinion’s and your views.
We would like these last words to be passed to European and Turkish companies and banks who want this project to go ahead. Bear in mind making steps to gain financial profit will harm your esteem in short and long term.
Lastly we are calling German, Austrian and Swiss governments to withdraw credit assurance to this project. If you are connected to your criteria’s and values little fragment, you will not support such a destructive project. We have tried to explain clearly to you several times. If you provide credit assurance to this project you will loose all your persuasiveness in people’s eyes in Ilisu region and surroundings.
We would condemn strongly all sides in mentioned agreements that are part of this crime.
All sides and public opinion should be fully aware that our struggle will continue in ever condition with great DETERMINATION up until project stops.
Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive 15.08.2007
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