Germany suspends funding for controversial Ilisu dam in Turkey

There are already too many historical sites that are under water as it is.

It appears from these interviews that the expropriation process has begun and the people here have been totally betrayed by their government regarding compensation. This is without a doubt a human rights abuse. Also, in these interviews there was talk of a great military presence there with people afraid to speak out against the government. This project was not being done in good faith for the people.

Contacts

H. E. Mr Ali Tinaz Tuygan
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegate
Permanent Delegation of Turkey to UNESCO
Maison de l'UNESCO
Bureau MS1.59/60/61
1, rue Miollis
75732 PARIS Cedex 15

Tel: 01.45.68.27.15; 01.45.68.27.16; 01.45.68.27.55
Fax: 01.40.56.04.13

EMail: dl.turquie@unesco.org
Web Site: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/

Source: UNESCO/ERC
Turkish National Commission for UNESCO

Chairperson: Pr. Arsýn Aydýnuraz
Vice-Chairperson: Pr. Korkmaz Alemdar
Vice-Chairperson: Prof. Faruk Logoglu
Secretary-general: Dr Nihat Zal
Deputy Secretary-General: Ms. Ayse Sesli
Göreme Sokak, 7/9

06680 Kavaklidere
ANKARA
TURKEY
Tel: (+ 90.312) 426 58 94; (+ 90.312) 427 19 48
Fax: (+ 90.312) 427 20 64
EMail: arsin@science.ankara.edu.tr; zal@unesco.org.tr; webmaster@unesco.org.tr;

Web Site: http://www.unesco.org.tr
Source: UNESCO/ERC

I found these doing a search of the UNESCO site (hopefully they work.) If anyone is so inclined and cares that this landmark be considered for designation as a World Heritage site, the emails are listed here.

Finally, change was made for the good of the people and the environment.

Yes it is, and we need to see more of it. But we have to watch and make sure this isn't somehow reversed. I also hope this sets a precedent for other projects like it in places like this that have spiritual and historcial significance. There was another dam called the Kalabagh in Pakistan that was pushed by Musharraf that was having the same controversy. Having Hasenkeyf designated a World Heritage Site would stop it for sure. I hope that happens.

It's good to hear when the people win.

Good news for a change.

Nicely done, Germany!

From the article:

Export credit insurers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland said on Tuesday they had told suppliers to suspend work on the Ilisu dam on the Tigris river.

They are giving Ankara 180 days to meet standards set by the World Bank.

The ancient Hasankeyf fortress is in the area that would be flooded and more than 50,000 people would have to move.

The hydroelectric project near Turkey's borders with Syria and Iraq is part of a scheme to develop the mainly Kurdish region, which has suffered for decades from poverty, neglect and conflict.

Environmentalists say the dam would destroy archaeological treasures, including Roman remains.

The dam consortium plans to create a culture park on the edge of the reservoir and transfer key monuments from Hasankeyf there.

In a joint statement, the project's Austrian, German and Swiss underwriters said: "There was significant progress in recent weeks to implement the project according to World Bank standards.

"However, the progress is not enough to approve building measures."

The statement came from the Swiss state-run Export Risk Insurance, Euler Hermes of Germany and Austria's Oesterreichische Kontrollbank.

The 1.2bn euro (£1.1bn; $1.7bn) Ilisu dam project would flood more than 300 sq km (116 sq miles) of land to create the second largest reservoir in the country.

The aim is to generate electricity to feed rapidly rising demand and fuel Turkey's economic development.