Disappointed Turkish Engineer Leaves Country

Concerning the new equipment, Yavuz said: I stipulated that the staff be sent abroad for training on equipment operation. The managers, however, viewing such studies as an opportunity to travel abroad, sent themselves. It’s impossible to understand such a thing."

Yavuz, having lost all enthusiasm for working in Turkey after his one- year involvement with the bureaucracy of this country, will continue his professional life in Europe. Prior to coming to Turkey, Yavuz served as manager of the cargo control systems at Heimann Systems Company in Paris. Yavuz signed on as temporary advisor to the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institution, focusing on the installation of an X-ray security system to conduct high-volume inspections at the Kapikule and Ipsala border entry points.

Yavuz is world-renowned as the Turkish engineer who established the X-ray security system in the Mans Tunnel connecting England and France. Yavuz has installed many security systems in many countries.

In a statement to ZAMAN at Ataturk Airport before his departure to Paris, Yavuz complained that an appropriate working environment was not created for him during his time on the Kapikule project. He also stated that the salary for his position of advisor had been stopped. Yavuz explained that after that after working abroad for 20 years, he had been excited about returning to work in Turkey. Vavuz said: "I had established security systems in many countries. I wanted to convey my knowledge to own country, as well. However, I encountered many difficulties in Turkey. It’s possible that some people were disturbed by our disciplined work methodology."

Yavuz said that he regretted the failure of the [Kapikule] system, caused by voltage problems. Yavuz said: "Reports are that the needed items are on their way from Japan. It’s not clear when they will arrive. In the meantime, the multi-million dollar system costing is out of commission. When the system, which has the capacity to check 20 vehicles per hour, was working, queues that normally stretched for miles were gone. When that system is established at the Gurbulak and Habur border doors, drug smuggling will be greatly reduced."

Yavuz pointed out that his team had begun studies for an X-ray system to be established at Alje Harbour in the capital of Algeria. The security system will have a capacity much greater than the systems in Kapikule and Ipsala, with the ability to distinguish between oraganic and inorganic materials. Yavuz said: "Right now, our team has begun the work and the system will be ready by the end of the year. Once the system is activated, drug smuggling through Alje Harbour will be greatly reduced."