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16 May 2000
The Government's response to a Parliamentary investigation into British
involvement with the controversial Ilisu dam in Turkey (1) suggests that
British companies will not gain official support for building the huge
barrage across the river Tigris, according to Friends of the Earth.
The Government says that approval of support for the dam will depend
on Turkey agreeing,and enforcing, demanding conditions and consulting
with downstream countries. On both counts Turkey has failed to indicate
that it is willing to shift its position in respect of properly compensating
local Kurdish people and, according to a legal opinion commissioned by
Friends of the Earth, is already in breach of international law for not
consulting downstream states (Syria and Iraq) about the proposed dam.
Tony Juniper, Policy & Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth,
said :
“The Government has got itself into a very tricky situation. On
the one hand it wishes to present its policies as supporting environmental
protection and human rights, whilst on the other promoting British companies'
interests overseas. The problem is that they can't do both without proper
standards and procedures to decide which companies and which projects
merit official assistance. They have no such standards or procedures and
as a result support for this dam will cause tremendous political damage.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Government observations on the 6th report from the Trade and Industry Committee(session 1999-2000), published today, 16 May 2000
Contact details:
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Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
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