Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey, fighting infiltration from such neighbors as Iran, Iraq and Syria, plans to form a border security agency.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has approved plans for a border security enforcement agency.

The officials said the agency, under the auspices of the Interior Ministry, would be responsible for deployment and manpower along Turkey’s long borders.

“Our Interior Ministry is conducting studies to form a new, professional
border enforcement organization; on one hand, to increase cooperation and
coordination among institutions in charge of border control and surveillance, and on the other, to be responsible for the protection of our borders and passengers’ entry and exit,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said.

In a statement to parliament on May 29, Davutoglu said the Interior Ministry was drafting a bill for what he called the “Border Security Organization.” The foreign minister said the new agency would not appeal to the European Union for direct help in border security.

“It is out of the question for elements of the EU’s border security
agency, Frontex, to conduct any operational activities on Turkey’s
territory,” Davutoglu said.

Turkey has reported insurgency infiltration from such neighbors as Iran,
Iraq and Syria. The government has also been struggling with migrant ships
from North Africa and other regions of the Middle East.

Ankara has overseen the construction of a barrier along parts of the
900-kilometer frontier with Syria. But Davutoglu said a wall was not seen as
an option for the lion’s share of Turkey’s borders.

“The Interior Ministry has no plans to build security walls at the
borders with Iraq, Iran, Bulgaria or Greece,” Davutoglu said.

  Ahmed Davutoglu, Iraq, Recep Erdogan, Syria, Turkey forms new agency for border security and surveillance