THE PROTESTS CONTINUE
The Ecevit coalition government has constantly postponed its decision
on
October 15 and December 31, 1999, February 1 and yet the latest February
29,2000 in awarding the Akkuyu contract. Whether a final decision will
be
made in mid -March 2000 is still unclear. The protests over Akkuyu
and the
procrastination of the Turkish government continue along their merry
way.
The viability of the project is uncertain with the passing of each
day.
An Associated Press article titled 'Moderate Earthquake Shake
Turkey'
reported on March 6 that the cities of Konya and Adana in central and
southern Turkey were rocked by two tremors each, measuring 3.6, 4.1
and 4.0
on the Richter scale. No reports of injuries or damages were recorded.
On
February 26, the Anadolu News Agency reported of tremors in Adapazari,
Duzce and Yalova measuring between 2.7 - 3.1 on the Richter scale,
the
scene of the devastating earthquakes which hit north western Turkey
on
August 17 and November 12, 1999. These tremors should act as a warning
to
the politicians in Ecevit's government who are keen in developing nuclear
energy.
The opposition to the Akkuyu venture continues in Turkey. The
French News
Agency (AFP) stated on February 29 that Turkish security forces detained
some 30 demonstrators in Istanbul, on the eve of the Turkish government's
supposed final decision on the Akkuyu bid. The protest was organised
by the
Istanbul Chamber of Electric Engineers, Turkish branch of Greenpeace
and
Anti-Nuclear Platform. The security forces took strong energetic measures
against the protestors. Such harsh tactics can only harm Turkey's position,
at a time when she recently was accepted as a candidate for future
membership of the European Union (EU).
On March 1, AFP noted that Sukru Sina Gurel, the Turkish State Minister
and
government spokesman telling journalists that " The Council of Ministers
has decided to authorize TEAS [Turkey's State Electricity Company]
to
finalise the tender. This will take a week or some ten days." It seems
strange for the Council of Ministers to pass the buck onto TEAS to
make the
final determination in awarding the contract. This should be a political
decision of the Turkish government and not left to TEAS.
Another article appearing in the Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet quoted
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stating that " Our relations with
those countries which are competing for the tender are very good. Therefore
it would not be right to utilize political criteria. The solution will
be
made by experts from the relevant institutions." Ecevit is trying to
convey
the impression that the Turkish government is impartial over the Akkuyu
tender. It is also important to maintain good relations with countries
such
as Germany, United States, Britain and France who supported Turkey's
candidature of the EU. The Turkish government is aware that public
opposition to the project is growing. Passing the responsibility on
to TEAS
can be viewed as a clever move by Ecevit. This means that should TEAS
fail
in its negotiations with the bidders, then the Turkish government can
walk
away from the entire Akkuyu deal.
In order to maintain cabinet solidarity and to avoid friction among
the
coalition partners. According to Milliyet, it stated that Ecevit had
used
his persuasive skills to win over the Ministers of Tourism and Environment
Erkan Mumcu and Fevzi Aytekin who opposed the construction of the Akkuyu
facility. The news report concluded " TEAS officials showed the pictures
of
the tourists who swam in the sea near nuclear power stations." This
news
item does not tell us what inducements Ecevit may have offered his
two
cabinet colleagues to change their minds. The line with " TEAS officials
show[ing]...pictures..." promotes nuclear power as a safe energy source.
Greenpeace issued a press release on March 2 voicing its continuing
opposition to the project. It was highly critical of the Turkish
government's procrastination over the Akkuyu contract. Greenpeace
Mediterranean energy activist Melda Keskin considered it absurd that
" the
Council of Ministers threw the ball back to TEAS, the Turkish utility
and
could not come up with the announcement yesterday." The press release
also
shows the contradictory position adopted by the Council of Ministers.
It
stated that the " Ministers' Council says TEAS will announce the winner
whereas a recent regulation issued by the Prime Ministry (published
in the
Official Gazette dated 25 February 2000) requires detailed studies
of the
site including seismic and other research."
David Martin, the Research Director of Nuclear Awareness Project,
considered it an " odd announcement" where TEAS had " completed a technical
and economic evaluation of the three bids some time ago, and presented
this
report to the government for a political decision."
Overall the events of the past week or so, show the confusion and lack
of
resolution on the part of the Council of Ministers in making a final
decision over Akkuyu. They cannot continue with the political charade.
STAVROS T. STAVRIDIS
Historian/ Researcher
Greek-Australian Archive
RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
Email : stavros@mars.eu.rmit.edu.au