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Dammed if we do, green if we don't
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
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
