Two more die in Evros minefields
Two illegal immigrants from Turkey were killed and another seriously injured in a border minefield at dawn yesterday, after they crossed into Greece from Turkey. The injured man, identified as Murat Yilmaz, 30, was in a critical condition in Alexandroupolis Hospital last night. The two killed were Achsin Esen, 22, and Setin Soyan, 18. The minefield, at Kastanies in the Evros prefecture, was fenced off and clearly marked, according to army sources. Since 1990, 59 illegal immigrants and 3 Greek soldiers have been killed by mines in the region. Another 20 have been injured. Greece signed the International Convention to Ban Land Mines on December 3, 1997 but will not bring it before Parliament for a formal vote unless Turkey also ratifies it. Last April, Greece and Turkey agreed to ratify the convention, but, as of late September, Turkey was still among 51 countries that had not even signed the convention.
