Mine clearing poses security challenges

The Turkish government is in need of $450 million to destroy mines which were planted for just $3 a piece. Some expect the cost to reach $1 billion.
The government has agreed to offer a tender for the clearing of mines in an area as big as 3.5 million acres. When Israeli companies showed interest in the tender, nationalist statements began to flow in Turkey forcing the government to carefully reconsider the situation. However, if the government does not respond soon it will have to pay a heavy price. To date, Turkey has only cleared 10,638 mines. By 2014 it must clear all its minefields.The Ottawa Treaty for the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction was submitted to several countries on Dec. 4 1997 and implemented on Mar. 1 1999. To date, 142 countries have signed the treaty and 122 have ratified it. The US, Finland and Russia have not signed the treaty.

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