12 May 2000 : Statement by Jean Lambert

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, on the occasion of the launch of the Ilisu Dam Campaign:

I am opposed to the construction of the Ilisu Dam for 3 key reasons:

Firstly, that it risks causing even greater instability in the area as Turkey will have the potential power to control much of the water supply for Syria and Iraq. There are a growing number of experts in international affairs who believe that water wars over the control of this essential life-giving force, will be a major threat in the 21st century, just as oil has been in the past one.

Secondly, that large dams tend to be large environmental disasters. They damage the ecology and wildlife of a huge area as traditional water flows are disrupted: the silt settles and clogs up the system and the effects are wide-ranging.

Thirdly, because such large-scale developments have the greatest social impact on the poorest and most dispossessed of a country. In this case, the heaviest burden will fall on the already oppressed Kurdish people and others in the area - some 25,000 in total. Compensation for leaving an area of historical significance and cultural identity will be minimal. Such a large resettlement of people will also have an impact on the areas into which they move and cause further problems.

The British Government should not back this project in any way and neither should any other government within the European Union. My colleague, Caroline Lucas, and I will be continuing our work with the Green Group of the European Parliament to stop this development - even more crucial now that Turkey is an applicant country to the EU. We have already started asking questions - we will do what we can to add further international pressure to help this important campaign.