The Government had also failed to consider the political implications. Neighbouring Iraq and Syria have registered their opposition. The British civil engineering firm Balfour Beatty has a contract for the dam worth nearly 200 million, and the Export Credit Guarantee Department has been asked to underwrite the project. Environmental and human rights groups fear the dam will destroy archaeological treasures and increase tension by cutting the flow of water into Syria and Iraq. Sources have confirmed to us that this decision was made after the personal intervention of Tony Blair.
Work is due to begin on the seven-year project at the end of the year.
Keith Vaz, the minister for Europe, has written to Bowen Wells, the Tory chairman of the committee, accusing him of misrepresenting the Foreign Office's position. 2 Headlines 2. The government's credibility was dealt a stinging and highly embarrassing blow yesterday as MPs from all parties demanded that the proposed underwriting of a hydro-electric dam project in Turkey should be withdrawn immediately because it infringes human rights, threatens peace in the region and contravenes international standards. The international development committee of MPs expressed astonishment at the conduct of the Foreign Office over plans to give 200m support for the Ilisu dam and castigated the Department of Trade and Industry for putting profit for British companies above human rights and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. The report provides ammunition for environment groups which are planning to take the government to court for breaches of international law if it provides Balfour Beatty with export credit guarantees for the 1.25bn Ilisu project.