Bulgaria–Turkey border

Bulgaria-Turkey border
Türkiye-Bulgaristan sınırı
Границата между България и Турция
Characteristics
Entities  Bulgaria  Turkey
Length 269 km (167 mi)[1]
History
Established 3 March 1878

 Signing of the Treaty of San Stefano at the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
Current shape 6 August 1924

 Signing of the Treaty of Lausanne at the end of the Turkish War of Independence
Treaties Treaty of San Stefano, Treaty of Berlin, Tophane Agreement, Treaty of London, Treaty of Constantinople, Treaty of Sèvres, Treaty of Lausanne
Kapıkule border crossing to Bulgaria from Turkey.

The Bulgaria-Turkey border (Turkish: Türkiye-Bulgaristan sınırı, Bulgarian: Границата между България и Турция, Granitsata mezhdu Bŭlgariya i Turtsiya) is a 269 km (167 mi) long international border between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Turkey. It is the third longest border of Turkey, after Syria and Iran, and the shortest border of Bulgaria.

Border barrier

  Bulgaria
  Turkey

In response to the European migrant crisis, Bulgaria erected a border barrier to halt the influx of illegal crossings. As of June 2016, nearly 146 kilometres (91 mi) of the 166 kilometres (103 mi) planned barrier were constructed.[2]

In January 2014, Bulgaria started construction of a 30-kilometer long security fence along its border with Turkey to contain a surge of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.[3] Standing 10 feet (3.0 m) tall and fortified with razor wire coils, the fence covers the least visible section of the border between the Lesovo border checkpoint and the village of Golyam Dervent. The Bulgarian Army completed the protective barrier in July 2014 at a cost of around €5 million.[4] As a result of the new fence, illegal crossing attempts in the vicinity of the installation have decreased by seven times. Turkey’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Suleyman Gokce has expressed dissatisfaction with the border barrier adding that it creates discontent and gives reason to "reflect on the political message," that the fence is sending.[5]

At the beginning of 2015, the government announced a 130-kilometer extension to the barbed wire border fence in order to completely secure the land border. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov described the extension as "absolutely necessary," in order to prevent persons from illegally entering the European Union member state.[6] Bulgarian Parliament has decided to continue construction of the fence at the border with Turkey without launching a public procurement procedure because of the need to safeguard national security.[7] This final section of the fence completely seals off Bulgarian border with Turkey.[8] As of March 2016, nearly 100 kilometres (62 mi) of the 166 kilometres (103 mi) planned barrier were constructed.[9] As of June 2016, 146 kilometres (91 mi) of the barrier were constructed.[2]

Crossings

There are three crossings along the entire border, two for vehicular traffic and one for vehicular and rail traffic. The busiest of three, Kapıkule, is among the busiest border checkpoints in the world.

Turkey Turkish checkpoint Province Bulgaria Bulgarian checkpoint Province Opened Route in Turkey Route in Bulgaria Status
Kapıkule Edirne Kapitan Andreevo Haskovo 4 September 1953 D.100
Pehlivanköy–Svilengrad railway		 A4
I-9
Pehlivanköy–Svilengrad railway		 Open
Hamzabeyli Edirne Lesovo Jambol 22 November 2004 D.535 I-7 Open
Dereköy Kırklareli Malko Tarnovo Burgas 18 July 1969 D.555 I-9 Open

See also

References

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