ANKARA - Security forces have achieved a significant success in fight against foreigners who fled from their countries due to some reasons such as poverty, unemployment and war and tried to proceed to European countries illegally via Turkey.
Releasing a statement on Sunday, the Directorate General of Security said that a total of 728 thousand 534 foreigners from 162 countries were captured in 11 thousand 432 separate operations between 1999 and 2003.
''These foreigners enter Turkey from eastern borders without passports. Then, they come to western provinces and try to proceed illegally to European countries. Security forces captured 728 thousand 534 foreigners from 162 countries in 11 thousand 432 separate operations between 1999 and 2003. There were 71 thousand 518 Iraqi, 40 thousand 806 Moldovan, 27 thousand 33 Afghan, 23 thousand 164 Pakistani, 19 thousand 556 Iranian, 17 thousand 726 Romanian, 14 thousand 115 Russian and 11 thousand 337 Georgian citizens among them,'' it said.
Reminding that a special mission force was established under the structure of the Directorate General of Security to fight against illegal migration, the statement noted, ''several agreements were signed with the neighboring countries to this end.''
SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE 11 FOREIGNERS
Security forces captured 11 foreigners who attempted to pass to Greece illegally in northwestern Edirne province.
Gendarme forces caught 11 foreigners of Palestinian and Tunisian origin in Hoyuklutatar village of Edirne.
Officials said that foreigners would be deported following legal procedures.
(UK) 04.01.2004