Turkey: Final warning for Ilısu Dam from European governments

The German, Austrian and Swiss governments have sent a final warning to the Turkish government regarding their intention to withdraw financial support from the controversial Ilısu Dam Project in southeastern Anatolia.

  The governments allege that Turkey failed to meet the credit criteria set by the German government, environmentalist association Doğa Derneği claimed in a press release yesterday.

  The association said that Erich Stather, undersecretary of state of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, gave the warning in a meeting about the threats posed by the Ilısu Dam Project to the ancient southeastern town of Hasankeyf and surrounding areas.

  There has been local and international criticism of the project, as once the dam is complete, Hasankeyf, which has both historical and environmental importance, will be submerged underwater. The threat of the Ilısu Dam project prompted the World Monuments Fund to list Hasankeyf on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. Turkish officials have insisted the environmental damage will not be as bad as some make out and the relocation would be executed without much trouble.

Contact information	n/a
News type	Inbrief
File link	http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=117063
Source of information	Turkish Daily News
Keyword(s)	dam
Subject(s)	HYDRAULICS - HYDROLOGY , INFRASTRUCTURES , NATURAL MEDIUM , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , RISKS AND CLIMATOLOGY
Relation	http://www.emwis.org/countries/fol749974/country378851
Geographical coverage	Turkey, Germany, Austria, Switzerland
News date	29/10/2008
Working language(s)	ENGLISH

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