Table of Contents

Country Reports

LM Report 2005

Turkey

Key developments since May 2004: Turkey submitted an initial transparency measures report in October 2004 and an annual update in May 2005. It declared a stockpile of 2.97 million antipersonnel mines and about 920,000 antipersonnel mines emplaced in border areas. Turkey ratified CCW Amended Protocol II on 2 March 2005. During clearance operations in 2004, 1,225 antipersonnel mines were removed and destroyed; 16,065 square meters were cleared in 2004 and early 2005. A significant increase in mine/UXO casualties was reported in 2004. The PKK/Kongra-Gel has continued to use landmines. Turkey is the lead nation in a project to clear a heavily contaminated former Soviet ammunition storage facility in Azerbaijan.

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Turkey acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 25 September 2003 and the treaty entered into force for it on 1 March 2004. Turkey has not enacted domestic implementation legislation, but has indicated that its constitution, criminal code and directives of the army general staff give legal effect to the treaty’s provisions.^[1] In particular, Article 90 of the constitution gives the force of law to international treaties, and Article 174 of the criminal code, which entered into force on 2 June 2005, brings in penal sanctions regarding explosives.^[2] In October 2005, Turkey stated that its “existing domestic legislation contains provisions, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited under the Ottawa Treaty.”^[3]

Turkey submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 1 October 2004, covering the period from 1 March 2004 to 28 August 2004.^[4] It submitted an annual update on 10 May 2005, covering calendar year 2004.^[5] Both reports made use of the voluntary Form J to report details of legislation, casualties and survivor assistance.

Ambassador Varol Ozkocak, Turkey’s representative in Kenya, led the country’s delegation to the First Review Conference, held in Nairobi in November-December 2004. Turkey stressed two points in its high level statement: efforts to engage armed non-state actors in the mine ban should avoid legitimizing terrorist groups, and the number of antipersonnel landmines allowed to be kept in stock for training and development purposes should not be restricted.^[6]

Turkey attended the meetings of the intersessional Standing Committees in Geneva in June 2005, and made statements on armed non-state actors, mines retained for research and training, national implementation measures, and progress in mine clearance and stockpile destruction. In its statement on non-state actors, Turkey referred to Action 46 of the Nairobi Action Plan which says, “States in a position to do so will...continue to support, as appropriate, mine action to assist populations in areas under the control of armed non-state actors....” Turkey noted that it “interprets and accepts the phrase ‘as appropriate’ to mean that States concerned must be informed of any potential engagements with ‘armed non state actors’ and the intended nature of these engagements. Furthermore...if a State Party does not give its consent to such an engagement, any such plan should not be implemented. We would like to point out that we are aware of certain efforts, regarding Turkey yet against Turkey’s wishes. Suffice to say that Turkey is strongly against these engagements and always has been.”^[7]

While Turkey has not taken part in State Party discussions regarding matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1 and 2, the Turkish Mission to the UN in Geneva told Landmine Monitor that Turkey will not permit the use of antipersonnel mines in Turkey by other states during joint military operations. The mission also stated that Turkey considers the stockpiling or transit of foreign antipersonnel mines on its territory as a breach of the Mine Ban Treaty, and “will never permit stockpiling or transfer of any type of antipersonnel landmine on its territory.” The mission denied that, as previously reported, the United States has a stockpile of 1,100 Air Force Gator antipersonnel mines in Turkey.^[8]

In addition, in October 2005 Turkey wrote to Landmine Monitor that, “With respect to joint military [operations], Turkey has committed herself to act in conformity with the spirit of the Ottawa Treaty, under all circumstances.”  It also stated with respect to Article 2, “Turkey does not use mines with sensitive fuses and/or anti-handling devices....  [B]earing in mind that some of Turkey’s neighbours have anti-vehicle mines placed on their border with Turkey, Turkey in principle, is in favour of a prohibition also of anti-vehicle mines, provided that these neighbours also share the same view.”^[9]

Turkey signed the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) on 26 March 1982 and ratified Amended Protocol II on 2 March 2005. Turkey attended as a signatory the Sixth Annual Meeting of States Parties to Amended Protocol II in Geneva in November 2004.

The NGO Initiative for Mine-Free Turkey held an event and press conference on 18 November 2004 in Istanbul to release the Turkey chapter and major findings, translated into Turkish, of Landmine Monitor Report 2004. Speakers included representatives from the initiative and from other NGOs, including the Social Democracy Foundation, Human Rights Association and Initiative for Freedom of Expression.

During 2004, the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey continued to publish its quarterly periodical and to translate and distribute other landmine materials. There was a seminar on the Mine Ban Treaty in the city of Batman in southeast Turkey on 7 May 2005, and another held by Bilgi University Department of Law on 12 March 2005.

Production and Trade

Production of antipersonnel mines ceased concurrently with a moratorium on the sale and transfer of antipersonnel mines in January 1996.^[10] Turkey’s production facilities for antipersonnel mines were then gradually phased out of service.^[11] Previously, Turkey had produced both antipersonnel and antivehicle mines. The Turkish company, Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu (MKEK), produced copies of two US antipersonnel mines (M14 and M16).^[12] In its most recent transparency report, Turkey stated, “No APM production facility available,” but it has not reported on the conversion or decommissioning of facilities.^[13]

Turkey is not known to have exported antipersonnel mines. Turkey appears to have imported all of its mines from Germany (DM-11 mines) and the United States.

Stockpiling and Destruction

Turkey declared 2,973,481 antipersonnel mines in stockpile in its initial Article 7 report and annual update for 2004, including Claymore-type mines.

Stockpile of Antipersonnel Mines as reported for 2004^[14]

DM-11	1,745,125
M14	1,013,740
M2A4	65,181
M2A1	54,242
M2A3	26,282
M2A3B1	213
M3	331
M16A2	47,368
M16E3	2,325
M18A1	18,625
M18	49
Total	2,973,481

Landmine Monitor has in past years reported that Turkey imported more than 34,000 artillery-fired Area Denial Antipersonnel Mines (ADAM) from the United States in 1988.^[15] However, Turkey’s Mission to the UN in Geneva stated in May 2004 that only 728 antipersonnel mines (including M18A1 and ADAM) were imported from the United States from 1983-1992.^[16] Turkey has not declared ADAM mines in its Article 7 reports. In October 2005, Turkey told Landmine Monitor that it “will continue to give detailed information on ADAM mines in subsequent reports.”^[17]

In June 2005, Turkey said the destruction of stockpiled mines “is planned to take place following the completion of the Mine & Ordnance Disposal Facility in 2006.”^[18] The deadline for Turkey to complete destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile is 1 March 2008.

Mines Retained for Research and Training

Turkey intends to retain 16,000 antipersonnel mines under Article 3 for training and development purposes.^[19] This constitutes the second highest total of retained mines among States Parties, after Brazil. The quantities and types of mines retained by Turkey include 4,700 each of DM-11 and M14, and 2,200 each of M16, M18A1 and M2.^[20]

In June 2005, Turkey stated that it “is of the opinion that States parties with varying geographies, incongruous terrain and a number of neighbours not yet States parties to the Convention should not have numbers or ceilings imposed on them. We agree with the wisdom of the wording of Article 3.”^[21] However, the Turkish delegation also noted, “This figure [16,000 mines] may be reassessed as the process of downsizing the armed forces progresses.”^[22]

In October 2005, Turkey stated, “Incongruous terrain and varying geographies may require the specific development of mine clearance technology and techniques.  In this context, the number of mines Turkey has retained for training purposes is in accord with the size of the Turkish armed forces, the difficult terrain and the vast size of the areas on which mine detection and mine clearance is being carried out in conformity with Turkey’s treaty obligations.”  Turkey also said that “after covering sufficient ground in mine clearance, Turkey may review the number of mines retained under Article 3 of the Treaty.”^[23]

Turkey has not yet reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained mines―a step agreed to by States Parties in the Nairobi Action Plan that emerged from the First Review Conference.

Use

The use of antipersonnel mines by Turkish Armed Forces was banned by a directive from the Chief of General Staff on 26 January 1998.^[24] In September 2003, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its successor groups^[25] ended the 1999 unilateral cease-fire, in favor of a future bilateral cease-fire. In 2004, attacks against government forces increased, including use of mines. The media has reported numerous mine incidents in 2005 as the fighting has intensified.^[26] Most of these reports cite the PKK/Kongra-Gel as the party responsible for new mine use in Turkey. Media reports primarily indicate use of antivehicle mines, including command-detonated mines, which has resulted in civilian as well as military casualties.^[27]

The Turkish government has reported that from March 2004 to March 2005, 25 military personnel were killed and 123 injured by mines laid by the PKK/Kongra-Gel.^[28] In July 2005, General Ilker Basbug, the army second-in-command, said that PKK violence had claimed the lives of 105 soldiers and 37 civilians over the past year, and claimed that the rebels used mostly explosives and landmines in their attacks.^[29]

In November 2004, police seized weaponry and explosives including one mine (not specified as antipersonnel) in Baglica village, Sirnak province.^[30]

Landmine and UXO Problem

In its Article 7 report for 2004, Turkey reported that 919,855 mines were laid in known areas across its territory, and that at least 687 mines were in locations suspected to be mine-contaminated.^[31] In its initial Article 7 report, Turkey reported more fully that there were 921,080 mines in 15 areas of known contamination, and at least 687 mines at 746 locations in seven areas of suspected contamination.^[32]

Turkey has reported previously that it laid 936,663 antipersonnel landmines between 1957 and 1998.^[33] The border with Syria was mined by Turkey in 1956-1959, primarily with antipersonnel mines. Mines were used around security installations and on some sections of the borders with Armenia, Iran and Iraq to prevent illegal border crossings. Landmines were also laid by government forces in east and southeast Turkey during and after intensive armed conflict in 1984-1999 with “the purpose of hindering terrorists from moving into central regions.” In the same period and subsequently, the PKK and associated groups also used mines in these areas.^[34]

In the east and southeast of the country, mines in and around evacuated villages impede the return of displaced people. According to the Diyarbakir Branch of the Human Rights Association, some 4,000 villages and smaller rural communities have been evacuated. The association gave the example of Hakkari province, close to the borders with Iran and Iraq, where “mines were laid around villages, military installations, border areas, water springs, feeding grounds, pathways and mountain caves. Despite the fact that the armed confrontations ceased five years ago, mines continue to pose a serious threat to returnees. Indeed, people start using the fields for cultivation, livestock or as pathways, and since people returned, the number of mine incidents increased.”^[35] In fact, “poverty leads people to do whatever is necessary to increase the family’s income including going to fertile land polluted with mines to collect plants or provide better grazing areas to the livestock.”^[36]

At the launch of a new anti-landmine and awareness raising group in November 2004 in the city of Hakkari, its spokesperson, lawyer Rojbin Tugan said, “Women and children continue to die at an alarming rate because of explosives that were planted during the war....You cannot walk down the streets of Hakkari without seeing a child who has lost an arm or leg to a landmine or buried grenade. Every week more children are maimed....” The group’s press release said that the situation was made more urgent by plans to repatriate “hundreds of thousands of Kurds who were displaced during the war. Unless there is an extensive survey and removal effort throughout the region, such a move could have devastating consequences... when villages are repopulated.”^[37]

Casualties reported in the media indicate that, in addition to mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) poses a significant threat in some parts of Turkey. At least 168 military and civilian casualties from mines and UXO were reported in 2004, a significant increase over the 67 casualties in 2003. In the period to September 2005, further casualties were reported. (See Landmine/UXO Casualties section.)

Mine Action Program

Mine action in Turkey has been planned and implemented by the Armed Forces, with the exception of some local initiatives providing mine risk education. However, clearance of minefields on the border with Syria may be contracted by the Army to commercial companies.^[38]

In June 2005, Turkey reported that its mine clearance program has the objective of clearing all emplaced mines by 2014. A representative of Turkey’s General Staff said that, “humanitarian and economical aspects are also being taken into consideration.” The clearance program will “...contribute to the local economies by using cleared areas for agricultural purposes. This would obviously help in bringing new employment opportunities to the region.” Plans were to be coordinated with local agencies and authorities.^[39]

Turkey’s mine action workplan until 2014 includes demining: the 510 kilometer-long minefield on the border with Syria (containing 615,149 mines); the 42 kilometer-long minefield on the border with Iraq (containing 75,115 mines); the 109 kilometer-long minefield on the border with Iran (containing 191,428 mines); the 17 kilometer-long minefield with Armenia (containing 21,984 mines).^[40]

In June 2005, Turkey reported that clearance on the southern border with Syria and in other mined areas was already underway, carried out by “a demining company of 75 men strong and 11 demining teams (18 men strong each).... These units hold mine detectors, physical demining equipment, mine detection dogs, classical demining machines and protective gear....” To clear the Syrian border as quickly as possible, modern mine clearance machinery will be introduced.^[41] A working and coordination commission was established on 9 September 2003, under the South East Anatolia Project (GAP). The commission consists of representatives of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture. It works on initial land surveys (carried out by the GAP administration), determining the type of company (by the Ministry of Agriculture and GAP Administration), and evaluating the legal basis and preparing demining operations (Armed Forces and Ministry of Finance).^[42] However, when the local organization, Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, addressed specific questions on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty to the ministries of agriculture and finance, both replied that those issues were outside their responsibility and authority.^[43]

According to media reports, the Minister of Finance Kemal Unakitan estimated that mine clearance of all mined areas on the Syrian border would cost around US$600 million and therefore should be undertaken by companies which would use the land for agriculture.^[44] The GAP administration determined that 85 percent of the land is free of fertilizers and chemicals, and thus suitable for organic cultivation. The GAP Chief of Development, Muammer Yaşar Özgül, said that the Finance Ministry would tender the clearance tasks to private companies, to carry out mine clearance under the auspices of the Armed Forces. He added that both Turkish and foreign companies were interested in the tender.^[45]

Bilateral agreements with neighboring countries to clear common borders have been proposed since 1999; some have been agreed to and implemented by Turkey.^[46] No new agreements have been announced in this reporting period.

Survey and Assessment

There are no reports of any formal survey or assessment of mined areas being carried out or planned, with regard to either known or suspected mined areas. However, Turkey stated in 2005 that, “Activities to identify areas mined by the PKK/KONGRE-GEL terrorist organisation have been continuing.”^[47]

Turkey has not revealed how information on mined areas is collected, stored and updated. It is not known if there is an information management system for mine action planning.

Fencing and Marking

Turkey stated in its Article 7 report for 2004 that all mined areas are fenced and marked with permanent hazard signs in accordance with international standards. Both fences and signs are checked periodically. All mined areas are monitored by guards and notified to local authorities.^[48]

At the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in June 2005, Turkey’s representative also reported that known minefields are secured with perimeter fences and warning signs. Minefields in the border regions are further secured by being “kept within military restricted/ security zones, which are defined by laws and announced to the public by security units .... Although the location of mines emplaced by the terrorist organization PKK / KONGRA-GEL are not known precisely, they are being secured and cleared as detected. Thus, in certain regions, the public can only be warned of the potential danger of terrorist mines.”^[49]

Local people in the southeast region interviewed by the ICBL in early 2005 indicated that there are breaches and damaged fences around marked minefields; they also said that mines and UXO can be found in unmarked and unfenced locations in inhabited areas where, in the past, both government and opposition forces used them.^[50] The Diyarbakir Branch of the Human Rights Association claims that “in the rural inner areas away from the border, the lack of marking or fencing around military installations poses a serious threat to children, women, shepherds and people looking after their livestock.”^[51]

Mine/UXO Clearance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Turkey must destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 March 2014. Turkey stated in June 2005 that it was “determined to fulfill its obligations within the period of time foreseen by the treaty.”^[52]

In its Article 7 report for 2004, Turkey reported that 1,225 antipersonnel mines in mined areas had been destroyed.^[53] Additional details were reported in June 2005 to the intersessional Standing Committees; in 2004 and early 2005, 16,065 square meters were cleared, bringing the total area cleared in recent years to 64,000 square meters.^[54]

The locations of clearance operations were not included in the Article 7 report for 2004. In February 2004, Turkey reported that clearance activities initiated in 1998 have taken place in the east and southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman, Mardin, Bitlis, Bingöl, Tunceli and Göle.^[55] However, local people interviewed in Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces stated that no clearance operations have taken place in these areas.^[56]

Mine Risk Education

There is no one organization coordinating mine risk education (MRE) in Turkey. Large-scale MRE activities have not been reported. There are several local initiatives that raise the awareness of mines and UXO generally.

The Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, in liaison with Mehmet Elkatmış, Head of the Parliamentary Review Committee for Human Rights, and Nihat Eri, Member of Parliament for Mardin, drafted a poster which warned children not to pick up mines and UXO; it was based on a Handicap International MRE poster. After being submitted to the Parliamentary Human Rights Review Committee in March 2004, the poster was approved by the Ministry of Education in March 2005. In mid-2005, it was awaiting approval by the Ministry of Internal Affairs before being printed and distributed.

The Turkish Human Rights Association and the Human Rights Foundation have published regular reports that include information on mine and UXO casualties. The Diyarbakır Bar Association provides legal help to mine victims in the context of its Justice for All Project.

Following a visit to Diyarbakır and Mardin cities in June-July 2004, the initiative made a film based on interviews with mine and UXO survivors and their families. The film, with additional documentation, was used to highlight the problem and impact of mines in Turkey. The initiative described this as the first visual material on the issue produced in Turkey; it drew considerable attention. Prominent TV channels such as CNN Türk and NTV aired it on 27 July 2004, and there was wide coverage in national newspapers. As a result, SKY Türk TV and CNN Türk channels prepared special programs on mines in Turkey. The CNN journalist responsible received an award, and there was further coverage of the mine issue.^[57]

A new anti-landmine group was launched in November 2004 in the city of Hakkari, near mine-affected areas, in order to raise awareness of landmines and UXO. The group pointed out that civilians continue to be injured and killed by UXO and mines laid during years of civil conflict. The repatriation of “hundreds of thousands of Kurds” displaced during the war could lead to increased casualties as villages in mine-affected are re-populated.^[58]

Funding and Assistance

Turkey is the lead nation in a project to clear 5.7 square kilometers of a former Soviet ammunition storage facility in Azerbaijan which is heavily contaminated by 613 different types of ammunition and explosive ordnance. Under the agreement, signed on 12 February 2005, the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) is responsible for project management and technical assistance. The total cost for the 18-month project is €1.6 million ($2 million); to date, Turkey has contributed €170,000 ($211,000).^[59] Turkey reported that in 2004 it contributed $100,000 to the project and also seconded Army experts to provide assistance.^[60]

In 2004 and 2005, Turkey provided annual donations of $1,000 to ICBL for the Landmine Monitor.

Landmine/UXO Casualties

In 2004, the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey identified at least 168 mine/UXO casualties, including 57 people killed (35 were civilians, including 16 children) and 111 injured (72 were civilians, including 29 children) in 57 mine and UXO-related incidents.^[61] This is a substantial increase over the 67 new mine/UXO casualties reported in 2003.^[62] Children represented 28 percent of those killed and 26 percent of those injured in 2004. Mine incidents occurred most frequently in the provinces of Batman (10 casualties), Bingöl (eight), Diyarbakır (17), Hakkari (24), Şırnak (25), Siirt (14), Tunceli (11) and Van’da (12).^[63]

Casualties continue to be reported in the media in 2005; at least 18 people were killed and 29 injured as of 13 July 2005, most were military personnel.^[64] Examples of reported casualties include an incident in April when a 20 year-old-man was injured after stepping on a landmine in Cukura town in southeastern Turkey.^[65] In another incident in April, a ten-year-old boy was killed after a landmine exploded while he was digging in the ground near the village of Tasliburun.^[66] In July, six civilians were injured after their truck hit a landmine in the province of Sirnak.^[67]

The government reported in August 2005 that in 2004-2005 it had recorded 140 civilian mine/UXO casualties (29 killed and 111 injured), and 281 military casualties (52 killed and 229 injured). Of the civilian casualties, three were children (one killed and two injured). The government’s casualty data is “collected and collated using internal security incident statistics.”^[68]

In its initial Article 7 report, Turkey reported that 400 armed forces personnel were killed and 1,216 injured in mine incidents between 1984 and August 2004. The report included no information on civilian casualties.^[69] Previously, the government reported that between 1993 and 2003 landmines caused 2,905 casualties, including 1,823 military personnel (299 killed and 1,524 injured) and 1,082 civilians (289 killed and 793 injured).^[70]

Migrants passing through Turkey may become mine casualties in Greek minefields as they attempt to cross the border illegally from Turkey into Greece. On 5 December 2004, two Turkish men were killed on the Greek side of the border while crossing from Turkey illegally.^[71] In April 2005, a Turkish truck driver was killed in Iraq by a roadside mine.^[72]

Survivor Assistance

The distribution of healthcare resources in Turkey is uneven with one third of hospital beds and nearly half the medical professionals located in three cities. Officially, healthcare is provided free of charge, but in reality this is rarely the case. In emergencies, people can receive treatment in any hospital, but when their situation becomes stable they are directed to institutions providing the necessary treatment. University hospitals are open to referred people able to pay, but the quality and variety of services offered varies considerably.^[73]

Turkey submitted the voluntary Form J with its initial and annual Article 7 reports, giving details of victim assistance activities.^[74] The Turkish Armed Forces has two rehabilitation centers, in Bursa and Ankara, where both civilian and military casualties are assisted. In 2004, 161 mine survivors, including 123 military personnel, were treated at the centers.^[75] Between 2000 and August 2004, a total of 1,015 mine survivors received rehabilitation services at the centers.^[76]

Turkey reports that from 1984 to August 2004, 791 mine survivors benefited from opportunities for employment, together with the dependents of 182 others killed in mine incidents.^[77] From 1 March 2004 to 1 March 2005, 19 mine survivors and the families of eight people killed accessed employment opportunities.^[78]

Physical rehabilitation services are also available for mine survivors at the prosthetic workshop and rehabilitation center at Dicle University. The center has the capacity to provide lower limb prostheses.^[79]

In June 2004, representatives of the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey visited mine/UXO survivors and their families in the cities of Diyarbakır and Mardin. Interviews indicated that the rehabilitation needs of civilian mine survivors are not being adequately addressed, and that survivors may not be aware that they could receive medical and rehabilitation assistance through military facilitates.^[80]

Disability Policy and Practice

Turkey’s updated Disability Law (No. 5378) entered into force on 1 July 2005. Turkey also has action plans for disability issues, such as the Employment of Disabled Persons Plan (2005-2010) and the Prevention of Discrimination Against Disabled Persons Plan (2006-2010).^[81]

The Administration of Disabilities Office under the Prime Minister’s Office reportedly has a mandate to develop cooperation and coordination between national and international institutions, and to conduct research into issues such as the delivery of services to persons with disabilities.^[82]

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^[1] Article 7 Reports, Form A and Annexes A, B and C, 1 October 2004 and 10 May 2005.

^[2] Article 7 Reports, Form A and Annexes A, B and C, 1 October 2004 and 10 May 2005; “Statement on Article 9 by Turkey at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on General Status and Operations of the Convention, Geneva, 17 June 2005. Article 174 does not explicitly mention mines or the Mine Ban Treaty. It states: “A person who accepts or keeps insignificant amount and type of an explosive material will be sentenced up to one-year imprisonment by considering the intention of use.”

^[3] Letter No. 649.13/2005/BMCO DT/8805 from Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 3 October 2005.

^[4] The deadline for submission was 28 August 2004. The UN lists a submission date of 1 October 2004, but the report itself does not indicate a date.

^[5] The report itself cites a submission date of 30 April 2004, but presumably means 30 April 2005, the due date for annual reports. The UN lists a submission date of 10 May 2005.

^[6] Mayınsız Dergisi (Without Mines) Magazine, Issue 2-3, February 2005, p. 2.  This is a publication of the NGO Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, which is also known as Turkey Without Mines.

^[7] “Statement by Turkey on ‘armed non-state actors’ at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on General Status and Operations of the Convention, Geneva, 17 June 2005.

^[8] Turkey’s additional response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 30 May 2004. US government sources reported the presence of mines in Turkey as of 1997; see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 848.

^[9] Letter No. 649.13/2005/BMCO DT/8805 from Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 3 October 2005.

^[10] The export moratorium was renewed in 1999 and made permanent in March 2002.

^[11] Letter No. 649.13/2005/BMCO DT/8805 from Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 3 October 2005.

^[12] Turkey’s additional response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 30 May 2004.

^[13] Article 7 Report, Form E, 10 May 2005.

^[14] Article 7 Reports, Form B, 1 October 2004 and 10 May 2005.

^[15] See Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 820-821, citing US government documents.

^[16] Response to Landmine Monitor, 30 May 2004. Turkey could be counting ADAM artillery projectiles instead of individual mines; there are 36 mines in each projectile. Greece has declared possessing 504 ADAM projectiles, which contain 18,144 antipersonnel mines. The United States transferred ADAM projectiles to Turkey and Greece during the same time period.

^[17] Letter No. 649.13/2005/BMCO DT/8805 from Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 3 October 2005.

^[18] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Action, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005. See also Article 7 Report, Form F, 10 May 2005.

^[19] Article 7 Reports, Form D, 1 October 2004 and 10 May 2005.

^[20] Article 7 Report, Form D, 1 October 2004. The 10 May 2005 report does not give a breakdown, instead indicating 16,000 miscellaneous mines. It should be noted that M18A1 Claymore mines are covered by the Mine Ban Treaty when used with tripwires, but not when used in command-detonated mode.

^[21] “Statement on Article 3 by Turkey at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 17 June 2005.

^[22] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Action, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.

^[23] Letter No. 649.13/2005/BMCO DT/8805 from Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 3 October 2005.

^[24] Statement by Turkey, Fifth Meeting of States Parties, Bangkok, 17 September 2003; “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 May 2003.

^[25] The PKK, KADEK and Kongra-Gel were declared terrorist groups by the European Union in May 2002 and April 2004.

^[26] For example, a July 2005 Associated Press story notes a surge in violence with at least 30 soldiers and 25 rebels killed since May, and states, “The rebels have increasingly turned to setting off land mines and explosives on train tracks and roads used by the military.” “Turkish Troops Kill Rebel Suspected of Planning Attacks,” Associated Press (Ankara), 11 July 2005.

^[27] See for example: “Six injured in Turkish landmine blast,” Reuters Limited, 10 July 2005; “Two people die in mine blast in mainly-Kurdish region, drugs located,” Kuna, 14 June 2005; “Turkish boy killed by land mine,” Associated Press, 7 April 2005; “Landmine Explosion Wounds One in Semdinli,” Anadolu Agency-Turkish Press, 23 November 2004; “Land Mine Goes Off Killing One Child in Caldiran,” Anadolu Agency, 8 November 2004; “Two children among dead in Turkish landmine blast,” Reuters Limited, 6 October 2004; “Two injured in land mine explosion in southeastern Turkey,” Anatolia, 28 August 2004.

^[28] Article 7 Report, Form J, 10 May 2005. See Landmine/UXO Casualties section later in this report.

^[29] “Turkey says US ordered arrest of PKK leaders,” Agence France-Presse (Ankara), 19 July 2005.

^[30] “Turkish police seize grenades, assault rifles and explosives in Sirnak,” Anadolu Agency, 2 November 2004.

^[31] Article 7 Report, Form C, 10 May 2005.

^[32] Article 7 Report, Form C, 1 October 2004. Form C reports uncertain numbers of mines in 43 locations and unknown numbers in 692 locations, suggesting that the total quantity of mines in these suspected areas may be considerably higher than 687. Types of mines reported: DM11, M2, M14, M15, M16, M18, M48, M2A1, M16A2, MISC, M49 and “hand-made.”

^[33] Presentation by Turkey, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 11 February 2004.

^[34] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 826-827.

^[35] Interview with Selahattin Demirtaş, Chairman, Diyarbakır Branch, Human Rights Association, Diyarbakır, 14 June 2004.

^[36] Sylvie Brigot, “I don’t know what to do, I have nobody to turn to,” ICBL website, 29 March 2005, www.icbl.org. Prepared following an advocacy mission to Turkey by the ICBL, 12-18 March 2005.

^[37] “New group launches anti-landmine campaign in Kurdish region of Turkey,” Hakkari Anti-Landmine Awareness Campaign, press release, Hakkari, 1 November 2004.

^[38] “Turkey to clear landmines on Syrian border,” Anatolia News Agency, 15 March 2005.

^[39] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.

^[40] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Annex, Mine Action Work Plan, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[41] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.

^[42] Email from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 January 2005.

^[43] Emails from Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture, 11 November 2004; Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[44] “Araziyi alan, mayınları temizleyecek” (“Those who get the land, have to clear it”), Zaman (newspaper, Ankara), 12 April 2005.

^[45] “Turkey to clear landmines on Syrian border,” Anatolia News Agency, 16 March 2005.

^[46] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 827.

^[47] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[48] Article 7 Report, Form I, 10 May 2005.

^[49] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.

^[50] Sylvie Brigot, “I don’t know what to do, I have nobody to turn to,” ICBL website, 29 March 2005, www.icbl.org. Prepared following an advocacy mission to Turkey by the ICBL, 12-18 March 2005. Further clarification provided in an email from Sylvie Brigot to Landmine Monitor (MAC), 5 September 2005.

^[51] Interview with Selahattin Demirtaş, Chairman, Diyarbakır Branch, Human Rights Association, Diyarbakir, 14 June 2004.

^[52] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.

^[53] Article 7 Report, Form G, 10 May 2005.

^[54] “Statement by Turkey on 13 June 2005 at the Ottawa Treaty Intersessional Meeting,” Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005. The reference to 64,000 square meters cleared may be calculated from 1998, which is when Turkey previously reported “comprehensive mine clearance activities” as having started. Presentation by Turkey, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 11 February 2004.

^[55] Presentation by Turkey, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 11 February 2004.

^[56] Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, “Report on visits to Diyarbakir and Mardin,” 13-17 June and 20 July 2004; information confirmed by Selahattin Demirtas, Chairman, Diyarbakir Branch, Human Rights Association, 20 July 2004.

^[57] Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, “Diyarbakır Report,” 13-17 June and 20 July 2004.

^[58] Hakkari Anti-Landmine Awareness Campaign, “New group launches anti-landmine campaign in Kurdish region of Turkey,” press release, Hakkari, 1 November 2004.

^[59] Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), “UXO Problem in Agstafa Region, Short Photo information,” (undated), provided to Landmine Monitor in May 2005.

^[60] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[61] Information from media reports analyzed by Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, www.mayinsizbirturkiye.org. The initiative scans about eight national newspapers daily to record mine incidents.

^[62] For details, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 828.

^[63] Information from media reports analyzed by Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, www.mayinsizbirturkiye.org.

^[64] Landmine Monitor analysis of 13 media reports during the period 1 January to 13 July 2005.

^[65] “A Person Injured After Stepping on a Landmine,” Anadolu Agency (Hakkari), 29 April 2005.

^[66] “Turkish boy killed by land mine,” Associated Press (Ankara), 7 April 2005.

^[67] “Six injured in Turkish landmine blast,” Reuters (Diyarbakir), 10 July 2005.

^[68] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[69] Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 October 2004.

^[70] Presentation by Turkey, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 13 May 2003.

^[71] “Minefields on Greek-Turkish border claim two new victims,” Agence France-Presse (Athens), 5 December 2004.

^[72] “Turkish truck driver killed by land mine in Iraq,” NTV television (Istanbul), 16 April 2005.

^[73] European Observatory on Health Care Systems, “HiT summary: Turkey 2004, Health Care Systems in Transitions,” www.observatory.dk, accessed 16 July 2005.

^[74] Article 7 Reports, Form J, 1 October 2004 and 10 May 2005.

^[75] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005; Article 7 Report, Form J, 10 May 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 829.

^[76] Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 October 2004.

^[77] Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 October 2004.

^[78] Article 7 Report, Form J, 10 May 2005.

^[79] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 829.

^[80] Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, “Diyarbakır Report,” 13-17 June 2004.

^[81] Turkey’s Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, 31 August 2005.

^[82] US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004: Turkey,” Washington DC, 28 February 2005.