Tuesday, 30 June 2009Turkish National Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that it started talks with NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) for the clearance of mine-fields along the Syrian border.
A press release issued by the Ministry said it decided to go ahead and have NAMSA demine the mine-fields along the Syrian border and it began talks with this agency.
The Ministry said inline with Law no 5903, the mine fields would be demined through service procurement method, that comprises of the stages of preparation, tender, implementation and approval and certification which would also involve the construction of a physical border security system.
-LAW ON CLEARANCE OF MINE-FIELDS -
The law no 5903 which created wide controversy between the government and the opposition during debates in the Parliament arranges principles and methods for clearance of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and explosives along the Syrian border and utilisation of these lands for agricultural purposes.
The law stipulates that initially, the Ministry of national Defense will invite tenders for demining of the said mine fields, and if that does not work the Ministry of finance will have the minefields demined through service procurement method. If this method also fails, according to the law the government will invite companies to tender for demining of mine fields, in exchange for the right to cultivate lands suitable for agriculture. How ever the duration of this right will not exceed 44 years.
After heated debates the law vas put to vote and was adopted in the Parliament with 255 against 91 votes on June 4.
Republican People's Party filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court for annulment and stay of execution of certain articles of the said law on the grounds that occupation of the Syrian border for agriculture by foreign companies which house military security zones could create defects for Turkey's national security. |
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
ANKARA (A.A)
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