Turkey: Bergama/Eurogold Update

[IG-H at TRILOS.han.de]

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                                                       Hannover, 18.08.97.

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 [LINK]Eurogold proposes safety trial for controversial cyanide leaching

  * Eurogold seeks support from State Minister Isin Celebi who
 originally allegedly proposed the test period
 
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Turkish Daily News

Ankara - Eurogold, the company that wants to extract gold using the
cyanide leaching method in the Aegean province of Bergama, called on
State Minister Isin Celebi to defend its proposal for a two-month
trial period to determine if the method is safe.

Tansel Fikri, Eurogold's executive board member, claiming the
proposal, to be put to the Council of Ministers, was the idea of State
Minister Celebi, sent him a letter saying that the company has
officially notified the Ministry of Environment about the proposal
that would "eradicate the worries that had come from misleading
information," the Anatolia news agency reported.

In his letter, Fikri requested support from the minister for bringing
the trial period "which you have proposed" to life.

In its proposal Eurogold suggested that "the establishment of trust
with the local people in the project would also be of mutual benefit
to the Turkish government."

Eurogold's proposal to the Ministry of Environment and the Council of
Ministers is summarized as follows;

- - Eurogold is proposing a two-month trial period to determine that the
method is safe and beneficial.

- - The test will provide opportunity for the facilities to be examined
so to establish "the technological superiority" of all processes
including chemical purification and the safety of disposal tanks.

- - We propose that the trial be monitored and evaluated by neutral
international experts. The expert delegation might be made up of
world-acclaimed academics, for example from the World Bank and the
European Union. The trial procedures would be under the surveillance
of the relevant departments of Turkish government and leading mining
faculties.

The company declared that it wished to preserve its earned and legal
rights and is ready to work in cooperation with the Council of
Ministers over the test period.

Fikri maintained on Sunday in a written statement that Eurogold would
file a complaint about certain legal experts.

He said that these people had attempted to interfere with the law and
added that the company would apply to the relevant disciplinary boards
with regard to this.

- -- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.ozgurluk.org
The struggle for human right, freedom, justice and democracy in Turkey
and Kurdistan
Mailinglistinfo: petidomo at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl

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