The environmental initiative struggling against Ilisu dam which will submerge the ancient cave town Hasankeyf said the Minister of Environment and Forests Veysel Eroðlu was not sincere in his speech on Hasankeyf and with this statement it became obvious that the Turkish government has no concrete project to save antique cave town.

The Turkish Minister of Environment and Forests during his visit to Ilisu village where the body of the dam is under construction said: “Ilisu dam is an opportunity for Hasankeyf. If there was no dam project the bridge would have been totally destroyed. Where were the environmentalists, artists that time? We will provide necessary financial sources in order to save the ruins of Hasankeyf. They will be moved or copied if it is necessary.”

The members of the initiative also criticized the minister for his speech on the artists supporting the anti-dam campaign.