the upper reaches of the Tigris in southeast Turkey is to create a huge artificial lake. Despite worldwide protests, the Turkish government insists on the implementation of the controversial project - priceless heritage would irrevocably lost.
From: epoc, epoc 6 / 2010
The government in Ankara has decided. And remains: In the predominantly Kurdish province of Batman populated near the border with Syria is a 136 meter high dam created, which the Tigris accumulate to a huge lake. would be lost cities, villages, hamlets and pastures, the project should be implemented effectively - and with them archaeological treasures from more than ten millennia. Apart from the fact that up to 70,000 people are forcibly relocated. Environmentalists warn that Tigrisauen and their unique habitats are severely threatened by the major project, reported the epoc history magazine (issue 6 / 2010).
UNESCO braces itself as the guardian of world cultural heritage against the gigantic construction project. Even in environmental concerns, not known as a leading world bank has been terminated due to massive protests their support. The Turkish government is challenging this but apparently not. About 200 settlements will sink in the floods, the most famous of these is now Hasankeyf. The town became a symbol of a past worth preserving and the center of opposition to the dam. So far, the protests were in part quite successful. Should be as original three export credit insurers from Germany (Euler Hermes), Austria (Control Bank) and Switzerland (export risk insurance) works contracts of € 450 million hedge. Last summer, attracted the Europeans back its loan guarantees, however, because Turkey refused to meet their environmental and social requirements. Now, with Akbank and should Garantibank two Turkish money to finance houses over it.
Hasankeyf is a picturesque place it satisfies nine out of ten criteria of UNESCO, to be recognized as a world cultural heritage. Unlike all other Turkish cities, it has retained its medieval appearance far-reaching. The historical monuments of the town are hardly threatened by modern buildings.
The colonization history of the region but for thousands of years further back. The province of Batman is located in Upper Mesopotamia, the region, the Euphrates and Tigris, which was about twelve thousand years the cradle of human culture. In the summer of 2009, archaeologists found in the vicinity Hasankeyf to up to 15,000 Year-old traces of human settlements.
been explored so far, only five or six percent of the archaeologically interesting prehistoric and ancient sites, estimates Adolf Hoffmann, former director of the Istanbul Branch of the German Archaeological Institute. But most political leaders seem to ignore the value of cultural monuments. Thus, the Turkish Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu said disparagingly, "Where is flooded, there are only primitive stuff anyway."
Others, like Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan show more understanding. He supported the proposal that the Hasankeyf treasures as the Egyptian Temple of should be removed Abu Simbel in the 1960s and at a new location outside of the dam rebuilt. But mainly in Hasankeyf are houses that were built of small stones and partially covered with faience. to move these small-scale building seems unmöglicht.
In May 2010, therefore a new idea was launched: The monuments should be rebuilt but simple! Apart from the fact that such a Disneyland of the past would have not only seen by the archaeologists no meaning and value, it seems to only be a fixed idea to act. But at least speak the fateful words devoted to Culture Minister Ertugrul Günay: "I do not want Hasankeyf disappears, but life is relentless.
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