Turkey passes controversial bill to clear mines on Syrian border

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Parliament began discussing the bill on May 12 but deliberations lasted until Thursday over objections from opposition parties.

The Turkish Parliament voted 255-91 after opposition parties, arguing that the law was in breach of the nation’s interests, threatening to take the law to the Constitutional Court.

According to the law, the Turkish National Defense Ministry will invite companies and institutions at first; which if failing, the Finance Ministry will open a tender

If both options fail, a local or foreign company could be allowed to carry out the works in return for utilizing the land for agricultural purposes.

Speculation an Israeli company would win the contract drew widespread criticism, forcing the government to rewrite parts of the bill.

The government had defended the bill, which sees the possible leasing of the 510-km long area for agricultural use, as a way to lure foreign investment as Turkey struggles to return to economic growth.

After ratifying the Ottawa Treaty ban on anti-personnel landmines in 2003, Turkey has until 2014 to clear its border territories of mines.

The Turkish-Syrian border is riddled with some 615,000 landmines, planted since the 1950s to prevent first smugglers and then PKK terrorists from crossing.