Contaminated by: antipersonnel mines (massive contamination), antivehicle mines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Article 5 Deadline: 1 March 2022
(Not on track to meet deadline)

At the end of 2016, the Republic of Turkey had more than 172km² of confirmed mined areas and a further 701 areas suspected to be mined, of unknown size. A national strategic mine action plan for 2017–2019 has been drafted following delays in 2016. As of October 2017, it was awaiting approval from the Council of Ministers. Clearance operations in Phase 1 of the European Union (EU) Integrated Border Management Project commenced in 2016, with the clearance of 0.12km² and the destruction of 9,008 antipersonnel mines. In addition, as part of demining efforts in support of the construction of the Border Security Surveillance System, 3.36km² was cleared, with the destruction of 837 mines. However, quality control procedures had not been completed, so this was not reported in Turkey’s Article 7 report for 2016. No data was provided on areas canceled in 2016. The land release results for 2016 were an increase on 2015, when no land release was conducted.

Recommendations for action

• Turkey should approve the national strategic mine action plan for 2017–2019 and finalize its workplan as soon as possible.
• Turkey should finalize and approve the national mine action standards.
• Turkey should complete the establishment of a national mine action database as soon as possible.
• Turkey should move forward, without delay, with the clearance of non-border areas.
• The Turkish Mine Action Center (TURMAC) should reconsider its decision not to begin clearance on the Syrian border, where minefields under Turkish jurisdiction pose a risk to civilians fleeing fighting across the border.
• Turkey should formally report all its land release results for 2016. This includes all areas cleared in 2016, and the results of the desk assessment of minefield records of the eastern and Syrian borders, including the size of areas canceled.
• Turkey should report on plans for clearance of mined areas under its control in northern Cyprus, in order to meet all of its Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 obligations.
• Turkey and Cyprus should both heed the UN Secretary General’s call to facilitate access to all mined areas inside and outside the buffer zone to achieve a mine-free Cyprus.[1]

Contamination

Turkey is contaminated with antipersonnel and antivehicle mines, as well as IEDs, with more than 172km² of confirmed mined area across 3,080 areas, as summarized in the table below. A further 701 areas are suspected to be mined, but the area they cover and the number of mines that may lie within them remain to be quantified.[2] The great majority of antipersonnel mines in Turkey are found along its borders. The mines were laid in 1955–1959 along the entire border with Syria, as well as on some sections of the border with Armenia, Iran, and Iraq in 1992–1995. Mines were also laid around military installations.[3]

Contamination by province (as at end 2016)[4]

Note: SHAs = suspected hazardous areas; CHAs = confirmed hazardous areas; AP = antipersonnel; AV = antivehicle

The baseline mine contamination as of the end of 2016 is slightly lower than that reported for the end of the previous year, as 122,764m² was reported as having been cleared on the border with Iran during 2016.[5] However, no mined area had been formally released by Turkey to date, and Turkey has also not reported on areas reduced and canceled in 2016, which it plans to report “at a future date.”[6]

The number of reported mines in confirmed mined areas decreased by 9,845 during 2016, which Turkey states is the result of destruction of 9,008 antipersonnel on the Iranian border, as part of the EU Eastern Border Mine Clearance project, and 837 antipersonnel mines destroyed on the Syria border, during construction of a border security surveillance system.[7]

According to Turkey, its western borders with Bulgaria and Greece, as well as the border with Georgia, are mine-free.[8]

Government forces emplaced landmines during the 1984–1999 conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan, PKK) in the southeast of the country. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these mines have been progressively cleared since 1998.[9] In addition to mines laid by Turkish security forces, non-state armed groups (NSAGs) have also emplaced mines and IEDs, rendering the clearance process more complex.[10]

Eighteen of Turkey’s 81 provinces still contain mined areas. The number of mined areas along the Iraqi border, as well as part of the Iranian border, is an estimate, as, according to Turkey, precise calculation is hampered by terrorist activities and the presence of unconfirmed mined areas. In addition, fewer mines are expected along the Syrian border than indicated because of detonations by smugglers and as a result of wildfires.[11]

In Annex II to its updated workplan, Turkey offered a comparison between contamination reported at the time of its 2013 Article 5 extension request and the revised contamination data reported in its 2015 workplan.[12] The comparison showed that in border areas the number
of SHAs rose by 216, while the number of CHAs went down by 118, corresponding to a 41.39km² reduction in CHA between the 2013 extension request and the 2015 workplan. In non-border areas, the number of CHAs increased by 30, with the area of CHA increasing by 0.49km² between the two datasets. In addition, the number of SHAs in non-border areas increased by 139. Mine contamination in Turkey has both a humanitarian and economic impact. Up to 80% of mined areas along the Syrian border are on arable land, which cannot be used. The risk to livestock is widespread, especially where fencing is damaged. Mined areas have also prevented access for development activities.[13]

Northern Cyprus

Turkey’s original Article 5 clearance deadline was 1 March 2014. In 2013, States Parties granted Turkey an eight-year extension until 1 March 2022, for clearance of mines in Turkey, but Turkey did not request additional time for clearance of the areas it controls in northern Cyprus.[14] (See the Cyprus mine action profile for further details of contamination and clearance.)

Program Management

In January 2015, Law No. 6586 on the “Establishment of a National Mine Action Centre and Amendment of Some Other Laws” was adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly; the law entered into force on 3 February 2015. It aims to define the modalities and provide the basis regarding functions, jurisdictions, and responsibilities of the National Mine Action Center (NMAC), which will carry out humanitarian clearance of mines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO).[15] The law entitles the NMAC to elaborate policies for this clearance; plan and steer related activities; monitor their implementation; and carry out the necessary coordination and cooperation with domestic and foreign institutions.[16]

The NMAC was established on 3 February 2015 under the Ministry of National Defense, and called the Turkish Mine Action Center (TURMAC).[17] A director was appointed in August 2015.[18] As of February 2016, core staff had been recruited and the center was in the initial stages of becoming operational.[19] However, the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016 resulted in the dismissal of TURMAC’s director. In late August 2016, Colonel Aydin Imren was appointed as the new head of TURMAC.[20] Law 671 of 15 August 2016 and the subsequent enactment of Law 6757 of 9 November 2016 put TURMAC under the Directorate of General Plans and Principles within the Ministry of National Defense.[21]

TURMAC’s capacity-development efforts are being implemented in partnership with the UNDP and the GICHD, as well as other national partners.[22] A capacity needs assessment conducted by the UNDP and the GICHD in October 2016 highlighted several capacity gaps for TURMAC. The assessment is the basis on which TURMAC is developing its capacity for 2017 and beyond.[23] As of June 2017, TURMAC reported that capacity development was progressing as planned.[24] TURMAC reported plans to be fully operational by the end of 2017, after approval of proposed organizational changes and the appointment of required personnel.[25]

Strategic planning

A national strategic mine action plan for 2017–2019 has now been drafted, following delays caused by the general elections in November 2015 and the attempted coup in July 2016.[26] TURMAC reported that the necessary coordination with ministerial bodies was ongoing as of June 2017. Once completed, the strategic plan will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette. Turkey envisaged this would be completed by the end of 2017.[27] The three-year plan reportedly covers national capacity development, the clearance of mined areas and areas containing UXO, provision of mine risk education, assistance to mine victims, and the Syrian border security surveillance system.[28]

Turkey’s workplan is divided into planned survey and clearance per region and will be finalized after TURMAC has developed a national mine action strategic plan. Further revisions are possible due to ongoing investigation and survey of mined areas in the border regions.[29] As of June 2017, Turkey reported that a survey plan is now included in the Draft National Strategic Mine Action Plan for 2017–2019.[30] The summaries of Turkey’s plans, by region, are reflected below.

Syrian border

Planned mine clearance along the Syria border is on hold and will begin only once the conflict ends.[31] This is with the exception of the demining being conducted to enable the safe construction of a Border Surveillance System which commenced in 2016.[32] In June 2017, TURMAC reported that under the draft strategic mine action plan for 2017–2019, survey of SHAs in Sanliurfa province was scheduled for 2018; and in Sirnak province (in parts of the province bordering Syria) and Hatay province for 2019.[33] Furthermore, survey of CHAs in Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, and Mardin provinces were planned for 2017/2018.[34]

Officials observed it is the easiest border to clear because the terrain is flat and there has been minimal displacement of mines as a result of factors such as land erosion.[35] According to Turkey, minefields in this region are clearly mapped, marked, fenced, and well known to the local population.[36]

Military demining teams have been deployed along the Syria border, to enable safe construction of the Border Security Surveillance System, which consists of a 730km-long modular concrete wall and impoundment (supported by a fence), roads, and surveillance system.[37] Demining efforts in support of the construction of the surveillance system also include survey and clearance of areas suspected or confirmed to contain improvised mines and other explosive devices deployed by NSAGs.[38] According to online media sources, the three-meter-high wall is being built behind minefields and deep ditches, and is reinforced with barbed wire and steel fences, and there are also watch towers and around the clock military patrols.[39] The Border Security Surveillance System construction of which began in 2015, was expected to be completed by the end of 2017.[40]

Eastern borders

According to the 2015 workplan, mine clearance along the eastern borders is to be carried out as part of a two-phase EU Integrated Border Management Project, under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior in a joint project with the UNDP.[41] The project, which was launched in May 2015 to address the humanitarian and border management challenges posed by mine contamination, aims to contribute to social and economic development through demining and more secure borders in Eastern Turkey.[42] Phase 1, scheduled for 2015–2017, was expected to result in the clearance of 223 mined areas over an area of just less than 11.67km² and the destruction of 189,863 antipersonnel mines.[43] Phase 2 of the project is scheduled for 2017–2019, but the number of mined areas and total area to be cleared is yet to be determined, and is subject to continuing survey.[44] Under the project, the UNDP is managing the demining operations and quality assurance along the eastern border and supporting capacity development of TURMAC.[45]

In February 2016, Turkey reported that the demining tender had been awarded to Denel MECHEM, as part of a consortium in which national operators would be sub-contracted by MECHEM.[46] Phase 1 of the project was officially announced in April 2016, with clearance operations beginning in June. It was scheduled to be completed by December 2017.[47]

With regard to Phase 2 of the project, Turkey reported that “the contract was ongoing” in cooperation with the UNDP,[48] and that it was expected to be completed in accordance with the planned schedule (i.e. 2017–2019).[49]

Southeastern/Iraqi border

Under the draft strategic mine action plan for 2017–2019, survey is planned of suspected mined area in Sirnak province (in parts of the province bordering Iraq) in 2018 and of confirmed mined area in this province in 2019; and of suspected mined area in Hakkari province in 2019.[50] Clearance along the southeastern/Iraqi border is not scheduled to commence until 2019, after completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project,[51] and because of the conflict in Syria.[52] Clearance of the 969 mined areas, totaling just over 2.86km², is scheduled to take place in 2019–2021, with the destruction of 79,017 antipersonnel mines. This represents all known mine contamination in this region.[53]

Non-border areas

The draft national mine action plan for 2017–2019 reportedly includes plans for survey of suspected mined area in interior areas of Mardin, Siirt, and Sirnak provinces in 2018, and Hakkari province in 2019; and survey of confirmed mined area in Diyarbakir and Siirt in 2019.[54] Furthermore, TURMAC reported that clearance of non-border areas was also scheduled for 2018 and 2019, but that both survey and clearance may be subject to revision.[55]

Standards

Turkey reported that it had developed a land release policy relating to the Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project, which will allow for efficient land release. In addition, as of June 2017, national mine action standards (including a national land release policy) had also been drafted and sent to the Turkish Standardization Institute for approval. Of the 19 standards, two have been published and four were expected to the published soon. The remainder were under review and were planned to be finalized by the last quarter of 2017.[56]

Quality management

Following an international competitive tender process, a contract for quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) services was awarded to RPS-Explosive Engineering Services by the UNDP in March 2016. In April 2016, the UNDP and TURMAC completed the accreditation of RPS-Explosive Engineering Services, and the company then began the accreditation process for the mine clearance contractor, MECHEM, under the Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project.[57]

In addition, TURMAC oversees on-site operations and regularly attends operational working group meetings in the field.[58]

Information management

The UNDP and the GICHD are supporting TURMAC for the establishment of a functioning information management system.[59] The UNDP is maintaining a project database to record all operational data related to the Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project until a national mine action database can be established in TURMAC.[60] As of June 2017, 12 TURMAC personnel had undergone Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) training, and IMSMA was expected to be fully operational by January 2018.[61] Due to national security concerns, much of the minefield data remains classified, presenting a challenge to mine action information management in Turkey.[62]

Operators

As of June 2017, mine clearance operations in Turkey were being conducted by MECHEM, under the Eastern Border Mine Clearance project, and by the Turkish Armed Forces along the Syria border, to support construction of the Border Security Surveillance System.[63]

MECHEM, a South African company, which is partnering with national sub-contractor Altay, was awarded the tender for mine clearance under Phase 1 of the EU Eastern Border Mine Clearance project by the UNDP in December 2015.[64] MECHEM was subsequently accredited, and as of June 2017, was employing 140 deminers. MECHEM did not deploy mine detection dogs (MDDs) in 2016, as the dogs had not yet received accreditation. Accreditation was subsequently granted, and as of June 2017, 30 MDDs were being deployed, along with one MineWolf.[65] As noted above, RPS, a UK company, is contracted for QA and QC.[66]

Demining units of the Turkish Armed Forces have a total operational capacity of 85 deminers, six MDDs, and four machines.[67] As of June 2017, organizational accreditation of the Turkish Armed Forces Demining Units had been completed,[68] but operational accreditation of the military demining troops was ongoing and due to be finalized in 2017.[69]

Land Release

Turkey reported that 122,764m² of mined area had been cleared in 2016 on its border with Iran, as part of the EU Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project, but that no mined area had been formally released to date. Turkey also did not provide information on the area of land reduced or canceled in 2016, but stated that this information would “be reported in the following years.”[70]

In addition, Turkey reported that more than 3.36km² of mined area had been cleared on the Syrian border in 2016, to enable safe construction of the Border Security Surveillance System.[71]

Survey in 2016

A comprehensive desk assessment of minefield records of the eastern and Syrian borders was conducted in 2016,[72] but information on area canceled has not yet been reported. According to the observations of the Committee on Article
5 Implementation, produced for the intersessional meetings in June 2017, Turkey indicated that it would provide information on these areas in its 2017 Article 7 report.[73]

Clearance in 2016

MECHEM, with sub-contracting partner Altay, began clearance operation of Phase 1 of the EU Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project in June 2016.[74] As of September 2016, manual clearance operations were reportedly taking place along the Armenian border, in mapped and fenced minefields on flat terrain.[75] However, the only clearance reported by TURMAC as part of the Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project in 2016 was 9,008 antipersonnel mines that were cleared in Igdir province, on the Iran border, releasing 122,764m².[76]

In addition, as part of demining efforts in support of the construction of the Border Security Surveillance System, military demining teams were deployed along the Syria border, and destroyed a further 837 mines in 2016.[77] While the corresponding amount of mined area cleared during the demining operations to enable safe construction of the Border Security Surveillance System was not reported in Turkey’s Article 7 transparency report, TURMAC reported that more than 3.36km² had been cleared long the Syria border in 2016.[78] Clearance data relating to the area of land released along the Syria border, during survey and clearance to support construction of the Border Security Surveillance System, has not been officially reported to-date, as QA/QC procedures had not yet been completed, and the Turkish Armed Forces demining units are not yet accredited operationally.[79]

Antipersonnel mine clearance in 2016[80]

Note: AP = antipersonnel; N/A = not applicable.

No mine clearance was conducted in 2016 along the southeastern/Iraqi border or in non-border areas.[81]

Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty (and in accordance with the eight-year extension granted by States Parties in 2013), Turkey is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 March 2022. Turkey is not on track to meet this deadline.

Turkey’s original Article 5 deadline was 1 March 2014. In March 2013, Turkey submitted a request for an eight-year extension to its deadline until 2022 to complete clearance of all mined areas. Turkey stated that the envisaged timeframe was subject to revision pending progress with tenders and clearance activities on the ground.[82]

In its 2013 request, Turkey cited a number of circumstances that had impeded it from carrying out mine clearance, including: delays in the establishment of an NMAA and NMAC that will supervise clearance activities; adverse weather conditions allowing clearance to be conducted for only five or six months a year; security problems posed by the continuation of the terrorist threat; mined territory contaminated with metal residue resulting from the fight against terrorism; uncertainties about the mine-free status of some areas due to the irregular completion
of registration forms; and topographical challenges. According to Turkey, the eastern and southeastern borders and non-border areas are the most complicated to address due to topographical difficulties.[83]

In granting the 2013 Article 5 deadline Extension Request, the Thirteenth Meeting of States Parties recalled the number of efforts to be carried out during 2013–2014, crucial to the success of the implementation of Turkey’s plan, and requested that Turkey report to the Third Review Conference in June 2014 on: the tendering processes for clearance along Turkey’s border with Syria and the results of any related demining efforts and annual milestones of expected progress; the tendering processes for the clearance of areas along Turkey’s eastern borders; developments in the establishment of the NMAA and NMAC; and process in clearance of mined areas in non-border areas.[84] Turkey did not provide an update on clearance progress at the Third Review Conference, but did subsequently submit a workplan in March 2015.[85]

Turkey revealed in its 2013 extension request that since 1998, it had only cleared a total of 1.15km² of mined area, close to three-quarters of which took place in one year (2011), with the destruction of 760 antipersonnel mines and 974 antivehicle mines. In addition, military teams had cleared 24,287 mines, but only to allow safe movement of troops, not to release a contaminated area.[86]

Mine clearance in 2012–2016[87]

Based on the current rate of clearance, Turkey is not on track to complete implementation of Article 5 by its deadline in 2022. TURMAC, however, reports that Turkey is planning to meet its Article 5 deadline of 1 March 2022, but also recognizes potential obstacles, including: the possibility that the demining contractor for the EU Eastern Border Mine Clearance Project will not meet its deadline for Phase 1; potential delays to the project for Phase 2; the fact that political uncertainties in Syria and Iraq may hinder survey and clearance activities on these borders, in addition to NSAGs hindering demining operations in other areas; and weather conditions limiting clearance to no more than seven months a year.[88]