ANKARA - Security Directorate General spokesman Feyzullah Arslan said on Friday that in a report, the United States accused Turkey of not fulfilling minimum conditions of fight against illegal migration, adding, ''it is not true. Either the assessment is not objective or we can't explain ourselves.''
Holding weekly press briefing, Arslan said that Turkey was situated in a special geographical area regarding illegal migration and human smuggling, Arslan said that Turkey constituted the target country for those people in terms of transit crossing and finding a job.
Stressing that Turkey had taken dissuasive measures to fight against illegal migration and human smuggling more effectively, and it had amended the relevant article of the Turkish Penal Code to increase the penalty for those crimes, Arslan said that Turkey had signed bilateral and multilateral agreements with sixty-one countries on cooperation in fight against illegal migration and human smuggling.
Recalling that 418,980 illegal immigrants had been captured in Turkey in last eight years, and 59,528 people who tried to enter Turkey with false documents had not been allowed in last four years, Arslan said that 220,015 other people who were involved in several crimes in Turkey had been deported.
Stating that more than one hundred and ten ships and boats who were claimed to have been carrying illegal immigrants had been stopped before exiting Turkey in last three years, Arslan said, ''I want the world to take notice of Turkey's effective efforts to fight against illegal migration and human smuggling and its determination in this fight''
Replying a question about a report prepared by the United States, Arslan said, ''figures are obvious. Either they do not make an objective assessment or we can't express ourselves. Turkey carries out effective fight against illegal migration and human smuggling.''
(MS-AY) 13.06.2003