INTERIOR MINISTER AKSU SAYS AGREEMENT REACHED ON MAHMUR CAMP

ANKARA - Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Wednesday that an agreement was reached about Mahmur Camp in north of Iraq.
Giving information to the Parliamentary Human Rights Follow Up Commission, Aksu said 2 thousand 100 people voluntarily came to Turkey so far, adding that necessary procedures would be carried out for those who committed crime. Aksu said procedures would not be carried out for those who violated Passport Law, and that six months would be given for those who are at the age of military service. He said those who married and had children in the camp could return to Turkey.
Aksu said an agreement was reached among Turkey, U.N. and Iraqi Governing Council, yet that agreement text had not yet been signed. Aksu said 11 thousand 600 people who live in this camp could return to Turkey.
Noting that Turkey did not want nearly 600 PKK members to return to Turkey, Aksu said those who return to Turkey would go through health control, and that their situation would be determined in interviews.
Pointing out that they would launch actions following signing of the agreement, Aksu said Diyarbakir Governor was appointed as coordinator governor and that those who come first would be taken to Cizre Camp. He said necessary procedures would be carried out here, and that necessary support would be expended for settlement of those people in places which did not pose threat for security.
Giving information about Return to Village and Rehabilitation Project, Aksu said 853 villages and 2,183 hamlets had been evacuated because of terrorist attacks, and that 353,550 people had to leave their home. Aksu said nearly 94 thousand people returned their home between June 2000 and October 2003.
Aksu said Interior Ministry spent 6.7 trillion lira and Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration spent 2.3 trillion lira for return to village project.
Giving information about human smuggling, Aksu said 27,000 people were deported since 1996, adding that 7.925 people were deported because of health reasons.
Pointing out that Turkey was a transit and target countries in respect to human smuggling, Aksu said 431.483 refugees were captured between 1995-2003, adding that 100 ships carrying refugees were confiscated.
(AY-AÖ) 18.02.2004