Turkey dismantle mines from its borders with Syria
Syria-Turkey, Politics, 9/6/2003

Turkey will start next week a campaign to dismantle mines along its 600 Km length with Syria, in an operation which will last at least five years, according to the Turkish dailies issued yesterday.

The Turkish daily Zamaan said that millions of anti- personnel landmines are currently protecting these borders which extend from Iraq to the Mediterranean at a depth between 1400 meters.

These land mines were implanted as from 1952 to ensure protection of the region as well as to fight smuggling, according to the paper. The paper added that Turkey will not dismantle all mines on the ground it is necessary to keep a depth of 25 meters for mines, thereby an area of 350,000 hectares will be suitable for cultivation.

However, the mines dismantling operation started only with the border with Bulgaria in 2002. Turkey's borders with Greece often witnesses incidents claiming the life of illegal emigrants who try to enter west Europe, as well as the borders of the southern eastern part of the country, where the Kurds were active.

Previous Stories:
  Turkish president commends relations with Syria   (8/1/2003)
  Syrian and Turkish Relations highlighted by Turkish dailies   (8/1/2003)
  Syrian-Turkish efforts to eliminate border Mines   (7/17/2003)

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