Turkish President Gul signs controversial border mine bill into law

The law arranging "de-mining of mine fields along the Syrian border and the principles for inviting tenders for this task" was ratified and sent to the Prime Ministry for proclamation, a statement issued by the Presidency Press Center said.

Opposition parties disputing the bill, which would enable foreign companies to lease the border area with Syria for 44 years, argue it is in breach of the nation’s interests and threaten to appeal to the Constitutional Court for its annulment.

In the face of strong opposition the government modified the draft law and introduced two new options for the de-mining process.

The revised law gives the first option of clearing the mines to the Defense Ministry, who could cooperate with NATO's procurement agency, NAMSA. If NAMSA will not undertake the task, the Finance Ministry can then open a tender. The final option is introducing the build-operate-transfer model, clearing the mines in return for leasing the region to the local or foreign contractor for 44 years.

The main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, had called on the president to reject the bill.

The government defended the bill, which sees the possible leasing of the 510-km long area for agricultural use, as a way to lure foreign investment as Turkey struggles to return to economic growth.

After ratifying the Ottawa Treaty ban on anti-personnel landmines in 2003, Turkey has until 2014 to clear its border territories of mines.

The Turkish-Syrian border is riddled with some 615,000 landmines, planted since the 1950s to prevent first smugglers and then PKK terrorists from crossing into the country.