Archived press release

Use syria trip to say no to ilisu dam, blair told

31 October 2001

Prime Minister Tony Blair should use his visit to Syria to announce that the British Government will refuse to back the planned Ilisu Dam in Turkey, Friends of the Earth said today. The move follows a resolution from the League of Arab States which calls for “continuing contacts with foreign quarters which intend to participate in the guaranteeing credit or financing the Ilisu Dam project, to convince them of the grave repercussions of such projects and to refrain from doing so.” (Resolution no 6127, agreed on 10th September, the day before the World Trade Center attack, attached)

The Ilisu Dam would be built in the Kurdish region of Turkey by a Swiss based consortium including British builders Balfour Beatty, who are seeking $200 million in credits from the Export Credit Guarantee Department, an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. The Ilisu Dam would make more than 30,000 Kurds homeless and would drown dozens of towns and villages, including the world historic town of Hasankeyf. The Dam would control water flows on the Tigris river, threatening future water conflicts with both Syria and Iraq. The League of Arab States has also threatened to boycott Balfour Beatty if the dam goes ahead.

Thousands of people will call for Trade Justice at a Parade on Saturday 3 November 2001, starting from Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, outside the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 at 12.30pm, the Parade will go to Trafalgar Square (speakers at 3.30pm).

If you are a journalist seeking press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Use syria trip to say no to ilisu dam, blair told

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