Turkey is desperate to become a fully-fledged member of the EU. It certainly seems to be corrupt enough to warrant membership, alongside the likes of Italy, France, Germany and Ireland, especially when it comes to environmental issues.

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This latest outrage in environmental chicanery was reported in SOZCU, a Turkish newspaper: http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2016/emlak/boyle-hulle-gorulmedi-1031203/

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A translation of the article follows. My thanks to Gokmen Ulu for this:

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NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE BEEN SUCH OUTRAGEOUS DECEPTION

“In the idyllic setting of Karaburun, Turkey, an energy company has applied to build a Wind Farm. The lawyers representing the energy company founded an association named Cevreci Enerji Dernegi – “Environmental Energy”, which was invited by the Ministry to conduct an investigation into whether the wind farm would harm the environment.

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These lawyers, who were representing both the company and the “Environmental NGO”, not surprisingly endorsed the wind farm as having minimal environmental impact. As a result of this positive assessment, the wind farm was approved by the Ministry.

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Çalık Holding is known for its close relationship with the Turkish government (Berat Albayrak, is the son-in-law of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan). This investment company prepared to build the Wind Farm in Karaburun. The bogus Environmental Impact Assessment report was fully endorsed by the Ministry and it seemed like it was full steam ahead for the building of the wind farm.”

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THE ADMINSTRATIVE COURT ANNULLED THE EIA DECISION
“The locals and environmentalists in the region opposed the planned wind farm. The citizens have made it clear that they are not against wind power as such, but they argued that the current location of the proposed wind farm would cause serious damage to the local eco system, with grievous implications for many natural habitats and the delicate environment.

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The Administrative Court in Izmir agreed with the citizens’ petition and found that the EIA and the decision of the Ministry to confirm it was illegal and of no force and effect. This ruling was made on the 22nd of October, 2015.

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The Administrative Court held that the Karaburun Peninsula and its environment would be destroyed by the construction of the wind farm. The wind farm was also situated to close to peoples’ dwellings and would adversely affect their right to enjoy their homes.

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However, the Ministry of Energy simply ignored the court decision and just five days after the court ruling, it issued a further confirmation of the EIA carried out by the bogus environmental NGO. The locals once again opposed this ruling in the Environmental Court, with the hearing still pending.

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The Ministry of Environment and Urban Development established a Monitoring and Evaluation Commission to ‘investigate local concerns’ about the wind farm. According to the enacting legislation, the Commission was obliged to invite at least one public organization. Not surprisingly, the only non-governmental organization that was invited to represent the public was the bogus “Environmental Energy Association”.
In the current litigation involving the wind farm, the energy investor Çalık Holding is represented by the Demir &  Demir law firm. The serving lawyers Arsin Demir, Serap Sürmeli Demir, Hacer Canseven and Gözde Sağlam are at the same time the Board members of the Environmental Energy Association.

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Mr. Arsin Demir is the founding partner of the law firm and the president of the NGO.” (See here for confirmation of this fact: http://www.ademir.av.tr/en/ and http://www.cevrecienerji.org/sayfa/74/yonetim-kurulu).

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“Actually, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization did not reveal the NGO’s name. Even though, during the EIA process, the ministry issued a circular on the subject among the Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the institutions and organizations, the NGO’s name was never mentioned. In fact, the name was only revealed by the lawyers when they publishing the favourable decision on the NGO’s website on the 28th of October, which was the day after the new EIA decision had been announced.

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This newspaper questions the ethics of these lawyers, and challenges the credibility and legality of the decisions made by the Ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.”

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Wow. That takes the concept “conflict of interest” to a whole new level!