SWEDISH FIRM PULLS OUT OF TURKISH DAM PROJECT

[Xanthe Bevis]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: FOE Internet System <nsuser at foe.co.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 12:55 PM
Subject: FOE.PRESS.RELEASE: SWEDISH FIRM PULLS OUT OF TURKISH DAM PROJECT


>   SWEDISH FIRM PULLS OUT OF TURKISH DAM PROJECT
>   Spotlight now falls on UK Government and Balfour Beatty
> 
>   One of the main companies behind the controversial Ilisu Dam in
>   Turkey has pulled out of the project to protect its environmental
>   reputation it emerged today.  The decision by Skanska, a Swedish
>   construction firm which had a 24 per cent stake in the project,
>   was welcomed by Friends of the Earth which is calling on the
>   Government to abandon plans to underwrite the dam with taxpayers
>   money.
> 
>   Tony Juniper, Policy and Campaigns Director at Friends of the
>   Earth said:
> 
>   "We welcome Skanska's decision to protect its reputation by
>   putting its environmental and social policies ahead of the
>   short-term gains of being involved with this highly damaging dam.
>   Sadly Balfour Beatty continues to enhance its reputation as a
>   company that appears to be prepared to be involved with almost any
>   project, no matter how controversial or damaging.
> 
>   "Skanska's move deals a body blow to this scheme.  The UK
>   Government should realise that the Ilisu Dam is rapidly becoming
>   the foreign policy equivalent of the Millennium Dome.  It is
>   highly controversial, unlikely to serve any useful purpose and
>   will do more harm than good.  Balfour Beatty and the UK Government
>   should withdraw immediately. 
> 
>   ENDS
> 
>   1.  British firm Balfour Beatty has a 31 per cent stake in the
>   project.
> 
> 
> $$
> 
> 
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