Turkey to ‘put up a wall on its entire border with Iran’

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Mehmet Emin Bilmez, the Governor of Turkey's Van province, has announced that a wall will be put up on Turkey's entire border with Iran.

Bilmez has said that they are expecting the construction of 64 kilometers to be finished by the end of this year, adding that there are preparations to make a tender for 63 kilometers. Noting that he is expecting the tender procedures to be finalized by the end of the year, he has said that a wall will be built on the entire 295-kilometer Turkey-Iran border over the years.

Examining the ongoing works to build a modular wall and to dig a ditch in Van's Çaldıran district on Turkey's border with Iran, Van Governor Bilmez has answered the questions of journalists there.

'A ditch of 160 kilometers will be dug'

Bilmez has indicated that a ditch is being dug up for border security for 2 years. According to the Governor, the ditch will be 4 meters deep and 4 meters wide. Razor wires are placed at the entrance of the ditch.

Sharing further information about the ongoing works, Governor Bilmez has said that 110 kilometers of the ditch have been dug so far and the sub-contractors are still working in the field for 30 kilometers. He has said that the Governor's Office will also undertake another 30 kilometers, which will ensure that a ditch of 160 kilometers will be dug by the end of the year.

Saying that the border is reinforced by razor wires and 58 observation and 45 communication towers have been built on the border, the Governor has announced that thermal cameras, radars, sensor and fire control systems will be installed at the towers. According to Bilmez, some of these works have been completed and they will be put into operation by the end of the year.

'Additional military troops deployed'

Van Governor Bilmez has also announced that additional military troops have been deployed for "maximum border security."

Referring to "increasing migration pressure", the Van Governor has said that the "land forces have sent 2 reconnaissance and 2 commando troops, together with armed vehicles." He has also announced that "the Ministry of Interior has sent 35 special operations teams and 50 armed vehicles to the area so that they can help the soldiers on the borderline."

"500 of them have been stationed in Çaldıran while 250 will be on duty in Saray," the Van Governor has added further.

"Moreover, 3 troops, one battalion from Elazığ, Bingöl, Muş and Kars have been assigned for our gendarmerie teams constantly patrolling and keeping watch right behind the borderline," he has said.

Noting that the number of the related personnel has increased to nearly 400 with the arrival of the officers from the four provinces, Bilmez has also said that 200 village guards have also been appointed to work in cooperation with the police officers and gendarmerie forces.

300 human smugglers arrested

Governor Bilmez has announced that 500 village guards will be employed to work for the border security in villages. Noting that the job advertisement has been put up, he has said that the related personnel will start working at the border following the personnel recruitment.

According to the Governor, "last year, 105 thousand irregular migrants were either prevented at the borderline or caught inside." The Governor has said that this number has topped 55 thousand this year.

"Only in 2021, 783 organizers faced an action and nearly 300 of them have been arrested," the Governor has said, adding that "last year, the number of organizers facing an action was 599."

Referring to a legal amendment made last year, Bilmez has said that "the opportunity of arrest has been introduced as human smuggling has been taken within the scope of catalogue crimes."

Saying that this amendment "has made things easier for them", the Van Governor has added, "But the penalties are still not deterring. They must be deterring." (KÖ/SD)