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 Germany, Austria and Switzerland have withdrawn their export credit guarantees for the highly controversial Ilisu dam project in Turkey.
The withdrawl of the 3 European countries from Ilisu is caused by Turkey's hydraulic authority failure to fulfill several crucial conditions for Involuntary Resetlement and for Cultural Heritage preservation, agreed with the Export Credit Agencies (ECA) of these countries. The cancellation responds to the vast protests of European and international NGOs against this dam. While an enormous number - 55,000 people- will be forcibly displaced, the compensation paid for their expropriated houses is, under Turkish law, depreciated bellow the cost of rebuilding a substitute house, resulting in impoverishment , indebtedness, and lower levels of living for PAPs. No specific lands for the relocation of as many as 150 villages and their farming and grazing land needs were found yet, let alone equipped with infrastructure. Therefore, Germany, Switzerland and Austria refused to agree with the start of construction of Ilisu dam under their credit and withdrew their earlier support.
See for more facts, failures, non-compliance with international standards, etc, and for a thorough in-depth analysis of the displacement process , the links to 2 Reports written by the Committee of Experts on Resettlement, chaired by Prof. Michael M.CERNEA, which were submitted to ECA and Turkish authorities. First report written February 8th 2008. The second report written on June 13th 2008.
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