Claim of stationing 5000 soldiers in Ilisu

ANF - Firat news Agency http://www.firatnews.com
23.3.2007

ANKARA (23.02.2007) - At a meeting of the “highest office for the fighting of terrorism” (Terörle Yüksek Mücadele Kurulu - TMYK), which took place recently before the meeting of the national security council (Milli Güvenlik Kurulu - MGK), the latest developments in connection with the Ilisu dam project were treated/discussed as well as the stationing of 5000 soldiers to secure the construction work.

In the meeting of the TMYK, whose President is Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gül, Veysel Eroglu, director of the DSI [state water works] also participated, and informed the meeting about the Ilisu dam and the rivers of Euphrates and Tigris.

According to different sources, the meeting called for a rapid construction of the Ilisu dam that will flood the city of Hasankeyf, which will be necessary for the building of the planned Cizre dam on the Tigris River.

At the meeting it was discussed to send 5000 soldiers during the construction period for the security of the Ilisu dam. Participants of the TMYK meeting were further informed by Veysel Eroglu of the building of two smaller dams on the river Zap.

In the meeting the Ministers for law, interior affairs, finances, as well as representatives of the security forces (police), of MIT (Turkish Secret Service) and the general staff (of the Turkish Army) have participated. A statement given at the end of the meeting announced that the implementation plan for fighting terrorism for the year 2007 has been overviewed and future plans have been discussed.