Legal advisors cite potential Turkish violation of international legal obligations on Ilisu

(ECA Watch, Paris, 29 March 2007) Turkey is obliged under international law to notify, consult and negotiate with other riparian neighbours before implementing or permiting the implementation of measures which may have a significant adverse effect upon other watercourse states.

A panel of international law experts provided this opinion to WEED on 2 March 2007, noting that "the possibility cannot be excluded that a State agency or instrumentality which provides financial support to a project that violates a rule of international law can itself give rise to the international responsibility of the State of which the public body forms a part."

Iraq has voiced serious concerns about the Ilisu dam. According to the information available to NGOs no comprehensive consultations have yet taken place.

Thus the German government's approval of a Hermes export credit guarantee for the Ilisu Dam project opens questions of risk, not only related to inadequate due diligence on environmental and social impacts, since international standards have not been met, but also under international watercourse law.

For new developments on the Ilisu Dam campaign, visit the WEED Ilisu web site.