German, Austrian and Swiss ECAs refuse to release Ilisu conditions

(ECA Watch, Paris, 31 January 2007) Having approved financing for the Ilisu dam project in Turkey in December despite its failure to comply with international standards, Hermes, OeKB and ERG have to-date refused to release the environmental and social conditions they have asked Turkey to meet prior to final approval. The 50 to 78 thousand people to be displaced, mainly Kurds, have no assurances that resettlement plans will be adequate, nor will downstream states such as Iraq know what the impact on international water supplies will be.