NGOs criticize German approval of export credit guarantees for Ilisu dam

Below is the English version of a press release in which German environmental organizations criticize the German government's approval today of export credit guarantees for the controversial Ilisu dam project in south-east Turkey.

In November 2005 the OECD approved export credit incentives for renewable energy projects which included large hydro dams in the definition of "renewable". Environmental organizations stated at the time that this could become a trojan horse for environmentally destructive projects. This is what we believe has now happened with the Ilisu dam project, for which no adequate environmental impact assessment has been done, no adequate budget exists to resettle some 78,000 affected people and which is opposed by 80% of the local population.

This is happening just as OECD ECAs are renegotiating their Common Approaches environmental standards which govern large projects within their US$125 Billion collective annual export credit budgets.

We believe this is an important story with significant implications, and for us, contradictions, for EU efforts to regulate environmental impacts on climate change.

Sincerely,

Bob Thomson
Facilitator
ECA Watch
Paris
Tel. +33 1 48 51 18 90
Mobile +33 6 09 73 50 90


Ilisu dam: Non-governmental organizations criticize German approval of export credit guarantee for Turkish Ilisu dam

Todays decision by the German Government to finally grant an export credit guarantee for the Ilisu dam in southeast Turkey has met with substantial criticism from non-governmental organizations.

"The German Government sacrifices people, culture and the environment in order to enable companies to make profits, judges Heike Drillisch of the environmental and development organization WEED. "The pro-Ilisu decision is a shame and dishonour for Germany. Participation of the affected population and of the elected representatives of the surrounding municipalities was negligible. According to surveys approximately 80% of the population oppose the project. "With its decision, the Federal Government obviously has yielded to pressures which the Turkish government exerted, instead of respecting international standards, says Drillisch.

"The approval of the export credit guarantee for the Ilisu dam is more than a disappointment for us, the affected people. By its double-tongued behaviour the German government loses all credibility, explains Ercan Ayboga, from the local Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive. The German Government is taking part in a great crime against the culture and the environment and is contributing to human rights violations against tens of thousands of people. The Ilisu dam is such a destructive project that it cannot be improved with any conditions. Therefore it must be stopped, said Ayboga.

Regine Richter of the environmental and human rights organisation urgewald comments: "With this decision the German Government knowingly accepts irreversible damage of biodiversity and the destruction of habitat for many birds. So far no complete environmental impact assessment for the project has been done. Such a procedure would be unconceivable with any European project.

The project may not even be compatible with Turkish laws as legal proceedings are still pending in Turkey. Thus the German Government is contradicting its own criteria for the assignment of export credit guarantees.

Only last Friday the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive opened a park of hope and solidarity in the affected region with participation by international environmental and human rights activists, as well as European and German Parliamentarians.

A recent message that the Turkish government plans to deploy 5.000 soldiers in the predominantly Kurdish project area in order to ensure security highlights how disputed the project is in the region. "Our resistance will continue in any case. The German government will be confronted constantly with this irresponsible decision", the non governmental organizations declared. They are examining legal steps to be taken against this decision by the German Government.

Further information:
Heike Drillisch (WEED), +49 177 345 26 11
Regine Richter (urgewald), +49 170 2930 725