Military destroys half of its landmine stocks
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Fulya Özerkan
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Nisan 11, 2009 00:00
KIRIKKALE - The military introduces its Munitions Disposal Facility near the central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale, considered the world’s first integrated military plant, was established under an agreement reached by the Turkish Defense Ministry and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, or NAMSA.
Around 50 percent of the anti-personnel landmines registered in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces have been eliminated at the military's munitions disposal facility, the General Staff told press Friday. Â
The General Staff organized a press tour to introduce the Munitions Disposal Facility located near the central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale, about 80 kilometers east of Ankara. The facility, considered the world’s first integrated military plant, was established under an agreement reached by the Turkish Defense Ministry and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, or NAMSA, in July 2005 to process discarded ammunition, rockets, missiles and mines without harming the environment. It has been operating since November 2007.
Half of the landmines have been eliminated so far in accordance with the Ottawa Treaty, formerly the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, military officials said. Turkey became a party to the treaty in March 2004. The work to eliminate landmines is ongoing, officials said, declining to give any details about the number of registered mines.
The plant is currently active with nine workshops, 11 service buildings and depots for ammunition and explosives on a 195,000 square-meter area. Turkish engineers were in charge of the facility's design, production and qualification and fully utilized the Turkish defense industry's capabilities.
Any metal waste obtained as a result of processing is classified, recycled and returned to the economy. The processed materials are transferred to Turkey's machinery and chemical industry. Military officials said around 1,800 tons of metals and 200 tons of explosives have been transferred to the industry.
The facility is also capable of separating and assorting ammunition coming from abroad. Officials said the facility has drawn increasing interest from other countries and that many military officials from friendly and allied states have visited the center. "We are ready to meet the military needs of other countries' armies and cooperate with our allies," said an official. But such a demand from ally states should be conveyed through the Defense Ministry and the General Staff.
There are 177 personnel working at the facility: 10 army officers, 16 noncommissioned officers, 54 civil servants and 97 workers. Dioxide and furnace gases emitted after burning off relevant substances are released into the air through a special filter compatible with European Union standards, so as not to cause any damage to the environment. The plant's qualification for working with explosives has been certified by NAMSA.
The General Staff organized a press tour to introduce the Munitions Disposal Facility located near the central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale, about 80 kilometers east of Ankara. The facility, considered the world’s first integrated military plant, was established under an agreement reached by the Turkish Defense Ministry and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, or NAMSA, in July 2005 to process discarded ammunition, rockets, missiles and mines without harming the environment. It has been operating since November 2007.
Half of the landmines have been eliminated so far in accordance with the Ottawa Treaty, formerly the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, military officials said. Turkey became a party to the treaty in March 2004. The work to eliminate landmines is ongoing, officials said, declining to give any details about the number of registered mines.
The plant is currently active with nine workshops, 11 service buildings and depots for ammunition and explosives on a 195,000 square-meter area. Turkish engineers were in charge of the facility's design, production and qualification and fully utilized the Turkish defense industry's capabilities.
Any metal waste obtained as a result of processing is classified, recycled and returned to the economy. The processed materials are transferred to Turkey's machinery and chemical industry. Military officials said around 1,800 tons of metals and 200 tons of explosives have been transferred to the industry.
The facility is also capable of separating and assorting ammunition coming from abroad. Officials said the facility has drawn increasing interest from other countries and that many military officials from friendly and allied states have visited the center. "We are ready to meet the military needs of other countries' armies and cooperate with our allies," said an official. But such a demand from ally states should be conveyed through the Defense Ministry and the General Staff.
There are 177 personnel working at the facility: 10 army officers, 16 noncommissioned officers, 54 civil servants and 97 workers. Dioxide and furnace gases emitted after burning off relevant substances are released into the air through a special filter compatible with European Union standards, so as not to cause any damage to the environment. The plant's qualification for working with explosives has been certified by NAMSA.