Turkey Ratifies Anti-Smuggling Agreement

While the repercussions of 8 thousand Kalachnikov guns seized on a Turkish ship in Italy continue, Turkey ratified the additional protocol to the United Nations Convention providing for cooperation among the states in order to avoid and combat with cross-border production and smuggling of firearms, their fragments, parts and ammunition, and to abolish them totally. The resolution was published yesterday in the Official Gazette.

According to the protocol, the State parties will have information exchange against the production and smuggling of firearm by illegal means, in respect of combating with the cross-border organized crimes. According to the protocol, the State parties will amend their domestic laws for this combat.

Any dispute among the parties including a dispute arising from their domestic laws will be able to be referred to arbitration. If it fails, any party will refer to the dispute the International Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, Turkey seized the leader of a man-trafficking gang and 34 accomplices. The operation named "Yayla" was carried out with China, Greece, Italy and Jordan.