In an article published in the British daily newspaper, the Guardian, on May 20, 2002, it was stated that British Prime Minister Tony Blair had sent a letter to his Spanish counterpart, suggesting that aid be terminated and that economic sanctions be imposed on a number of countries who have failed to crack down on illegal immigrants crossing their borders or who do not cooperate on sending these people back to their respective countries. According to the Guardian, Turkey is one of the countries included on Blair’s list.

 

Turkey’s evaluations about the government’s efforts exerted against illegal immigration, and the results; the agreement reached between Turkey and the European Union on the voluntary return of refugees to northern Iraq whose applications to take refuge in Europe were rejected by the European countries and the action Britain has taken on this issue are as follows:

 

Recent developments in the structure of the international community, clashes of national interests between countries or civil wars, severe economic difficulties in addition to hunger, famine and epidemics, the desire for attaining a better life-style and widespread violations of human rights led millions of people to migrate to developed countries through legal or illegal ways.

 

Turkey has come face to face with the threat of illegal immigration because of her position as a gateway to European countries for citizens of underdeveloped countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Bangladesh; a target country for illegal employment for the citizens of former Eastern bloc countries; and a source country since some Turkish citizens illegally migrate to European countries.

 

However, our country is on some of the routes which illegal immigrants use. There are many other countries which act as gateways to Europe. Illegal immigrants use many different routes such as the Caucasus, Africa, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the southeastern Mediterranean, the Balkan countries and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

As a result of the determination displayed by the Turkish security forces in 2000 and 2001, the transit routes used by illegal immigrants have moved to the southern route (Iraq-Syria-Lebanon) and the northern route (Iran-the Caucasus-Ukraine). In addition, the courses of the ships carrying illegal immigrants have also changed. In addition, the itinerary for vessels carrying illegal refugees has changed and recently ships from African countries have been preferring the route from Italy and France and those coming from Sri Lanka and India are going to the Greek Cypriot sector, Greece and Italy by way of the Suez Canal.

 

WORK CARRIED OUT BY OUR COUNTRY

 

Our country has taken dozens of legal measures both within its boundaries and with the cooperation of the international community to try to solve this sensitive problem which is an international matter of human rights. These measures will increase in the course of time. The measures taken by Turkey who is well aware of its responsibilities concerning international relations can be summarized as follows:

 

1)          The Undersecretary of Maritime Affairs, the Coast Guard Command and the Directorate-General of Security Forces who are directly responsible for combating the problem of illegal immigration, hold regular meetings to evaluate recent developments concerning the issue and update the measures by taking into account the status quo.

2)          Contact points have been set up which work around-the-clock to inform the above institutions in emergencies and to sustain a rapid flow of information.

3)          In order to promptly convey the information to the sub-departments of the related institutions, contact numbers (telephone and fax) have been determined. Information gathered through these numbers is disseminated to these institutions in the shortest time possible.

4)          There is a continuous information flow between foreign intelligence officials in our country, Turkish intelligence officials in foreign countries, Interpol, contact points in different countries, the European Union countries and the EU candidate countries through the CIREFI Early Warning System.

5)          In order to prevent the use of old and privately-owned ships the names of which have been changed after they have been sold or rented and old ships which have been maintained in our shipyards for a long time, certain institutions put these ships under surveillance.

6)          During the frequent controls on highways and peripheral roads, illegal immigrants are caught before they can reach the ships. The ships are also spotted and stopped before they leave the country. In 2000, 29,390 and in 2001, 24,314 illegal immigrants were caught along the coastal regions by this method.

7)          Control points have been established on highways and peripheral roads and controls have been increased in order to prevent the entrance of illegal immigrants to our country and to stop their illegal activities.

8)          Four programs have been prepared by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in an attempt to prevent illegal immigration of our citizens to European cities.

9)          Our country, which assumes an active role in international mechanisms of communication and exchange of information, attaches great importance to international cooperation on this issue. Turkey has undertaken an active role in international working groups and forums. In addition, our country supports and organizes many bilateral, regional and international cooperation studies on this issue.

10)      Turkey has signed agreements with Greece and Syria for the extradition of illegal immigrants and has proposed to sign such agreements with countries who are the sources of illegal migration such as Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, China etc. The extradition protocol with Greece has been ratified by the Turkish Parliament.

11)      Some 1300 personnel have been trained since 2001 with the aim of eliminating illegal immigration, immigrant trafficking and fraud. The target number which is aimed to be reached by the end of 2002 has been determined as 2000. In addition, Turkish personnel have also been trained at international training seminars.

12)      Logistic and personnel possibilities of border units have been extended and measures taken along the borders have been stepped up.

13)      The work of intelligence agencies dealing with immigration organizations has been stepped up.

 

 

RESULTS OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

 

            As a result of all the measures taken and the determined struggle of our security forces,

 

            * The number of foreigners, who were caught while trying to enter or exit from our country through illegal ways or while they were in an illegal position in our country increased to 11,362 in 1995; 18,804 in 1996; 28,439 in 1997; 29,426 in 1998; 47,529 in 1999; 94,514 in 2001 and determined as 93,362 in 2001 and 16,545 as of April 1, 2002 and thus totaled 338,984.

 

            * Foreigners who try to enter our country by using our border gates but who may not be involved in illegal migration or who try to enter with false documents are not allowed into our country. The entrance of 6,069 foreigners was refused in 1999; 24,504 in 2000; 12,508 in 2001.

 

            * Foreigners who were involved in various crimes such as theft, seizure by violence, forgery, smuggling, etc. in our country are sent to their own countries. Within this framework, 18,558 foreigners were deported from our country in 1996; 27,992 in 1997; 24,028 in 1998; 31,473 in 1999; 31,339 in 2000; 42,043 in 2001 and a total of 175,493 in the last five years.

 

            * Work for preventing the smuggling of illegal immigrants by sea has been accelerated with measures that have been taken within this framework, while the number of ships claimed to have sailed (Italy and Greece) from our country in 2000 was 19, this number was determined as 9 in 2001 and the number of ships which were stopped before departing from our country was determined as 17 in 2000 and as 19 in 2001. In the year 2002, it was claimed that only 2 ships left our country, whereas 9 ships carrying scores of illegal immigrants who planned to go to Italy were stopped before leaving our country. As ascertained from this information, the number of illegal immigrants who left our country has decreased significantly.

 

            As can be seen, Turkey is increasing necessary measures with the awareness of its responsibility among foreign governments in terms of preventing illegal immigration and it is achieving important success.

           

            As a result of the work that has been carried out in this field, the operations on immigrant smuggling organizations, who earn large sums of money by organizing the passage of hundreds of illegal immigrants, have been intensified. While 98 organizers were captured in 1998, this number increased to 850 in 2000, and to 1,155 in 2001. On April 1, 2002, it was 280. An organizer, who was determined to be responsible for the departure of 15 ships transporting illegal immigrants to Italy, was apprehended as a result of a successful operation carried out by our security forces. The individual was arrested by the authorities.

           

PROJECT FOR ENSURING THE VOLUNTARY RETURN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE EUROPEAN SCHENGEN COUNTRIES AND THE EXAMPLE SET BY BRITAIN, WHO IS NOT A SCHENGEN COUNTRY:

 

            During the meetings held between Turkey and the European Union (EU) on November 21, 2001, consensus was reached whereby Northern Iraqis, whose applications for asylum were refused in European countries within the Schengen border could return to their country on a voluntary basis by passing through Turkey. Within this process that began with Sweden and The Netherlands, the voluntary return of a total of 29 Northern Iraqis was ensured in the year 2002.

            According to this accord, certain criteria have to be followed and documents regarding the return of these people are needed. For example, the following may occur: Northern Iraqis who wish to return voluntarily may change their minds while they are in Turkey or the expiry date of their travel documents is not less than six months or they are sent back to their country with the same travel document prepared by the authorities of the said countries for certain reasons.

 

            However, if certain stipulations such as“only for travel to Turkey” or “he cannot return if he doesn’t have a return visa” were written on their travel documents prepared for the said persons, this practice ended on April 9, 2002, and it was emphasized that they will again be given permission to go transit from Turkey if they correct this situation.

 

            EXAMPLE OF BRITAIN

 

            It is out of the question that illegal immigrants, who were able to reach Britain, can leave our country. According to ICAO rules, an illegal immigrant, who goes from one country to another by air, is sent to the country which he entered from the airport with the plane that he came on. For example, if an illegal immigrant, who sets off from Afghanistan, reaches Britain by way of Turkey, Greece, Italy or France, burdening the responsibility of this transition on a single country is not in compliance with international practices.

 

            Moreover, under the Dublin Agreement, if an immigrant comes to that country from a reliable third country, he is sent back to the country which he came from without taking his application. In this situation, thousands of immigrants who go to Britain should be sent back to the EU countries such as Italy, Britain, France, Austria, Germany and Greece, which they come from. However, the requirements of this Agreement, which is an acquis communautaire, are not implemented by the EU countries.

 

            A meeting on the voluntary return of Northern Iraqis, whose applications for asylum were refused by our country was held on April 16, 2002 with officials from Britain, who is not a Schengen country. During this meeting, British officials suggested that the said practice be implemented in their country. However, during the meeting, it was decided that the travel documents that will be prepared for Northern Iraqis who will voluntarily return are not the same as the travel documents that were prepared by Britain for all its citizens and foreigners: On the contrary, they were prepared for them to return voluntarily, and that in this situation, if the Iraqis who return to Northern Iraq decide not to return or if they enter our country illegally within six months time, it will not be possible to send them to Britain with this document.

 

            Moreover, Turkey allows its citizens, who have entered other countries illegally or who are in the position of an illegal alien in those countries to return. This practice, which is a constitutional right, is not provided by many countries. Besides, a Return-Back Acceptance Protocol was signed with Greece, which is a transit country like Turkey. Under the protocol, its citizens can return and also citizens of third countries. This protocol has gone into effect.

 

 

 

 

 

            CONCLUSION

 

            Turkey, who has adopted numerous measures concerning illegal immigration and has implemented them, has set an example for all countries in terms of its struggle and the results it has achieved in this field.

 

            However, unless the economic and social problems of source countries which are the reasons for illegal migration, are solved, it seems impossible to provide a concrete solution to this problem. If economic difficulties are not solved or western countries do not support these countries economically, the problem will remain and accelerate this year.

 

            Turkey, by reason of her geographic location is used by citizens of third world countries as a transit route, and is at the same time not being fully supported by European countries in the struggle against illegal immigration using her own capabilities systematically to stem this tide of illegal immigrations.

 

            However, the financial burden on our country, which is not the target country of this struggle and which is used as a transit passage to target countries, is very high. Not a single positive contribution has been made as regards our projects, which were prepared within the framework of the “Sharing of Burden” projects and which were presented to the EU.

 

            The European countries, which benefit from this directly, instead of cooperating with our country particularly as regards the sharing of this burden, have not displayed any efforts in solving this problem. They ignore all the efforts and voice unfair criticisms which are considered an approach that forces the limits of the rules of good-will among countries as a result of the above-mentioned task.

 

            Thus, there is the necessity to provide proper information through our press so these efforts can assure the place they deserve.