August'19 Issue 40

Inside This Issue

  1. Introduction: About DRK
  2. DRK Insight and Case Studies
  3. Regional Developments
  4. Turkey Security Incident Overview (1 Month)
  5. Turkey Security Incident Overview (3 Months)
  6. Prominent Regional Security Issue “Security Solutions for Kaz Mountains Case”
  7. DRK Highlights: “Security Management for Mining Site Operations
  8. Technology in Security World: “Road Traps”

 

  

 

 

 

Introduction: About DRK

DRK is a Risk and Security Consulting and Management Company which provides sustainable security support to its clients with high accuracy risk assessments and continuous security management in any region across Turkey and in the Middle East.

DRK considers the concept of “security” in an interdisciplinary and multidimensional approach. Security is affected by; political, economic, international, and social developments.  Thus, it is a result of different macro parameters rather than the micro level scales of the business projects.

Project life cycle risk assessment is an ongoing process. According to the project characteristics, project managers may face variety of threat. Social tensions, large protests against the project, civilian actions based on nature protection and public pressure may significantly affect the project timeline. As such, there should be appropriate security solutions from the very beginning of the project. Protests in Kaz Mountains represent a very good case for the need of appropriate security solutions in a project.

 

DRK Insight and Case Studies

Snapshots

  • Unpromising Idlib's Condition and Repercussions on Turkey
  • Turkey’s Strategic Positioning Amidst the Rising Tension with the United States
  • Designating Turkey’s Security Concerns in Syria: Ongoing Conflict in Idlib
  • Unlawful Referendum Attempt of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Its Implications
  • Turkey – NATO Relations; Perspectives for the Future

 

Case Study & Insights

  • Uncertainty Further Prevails upon Syrian Theatre after US Withdrawal Decision
  • A Strategic Target: Oil and Gas Pipelines
  • The Increasing Tension Between Iran and S. Arabia and Its Possible Implications for Global Business
  • Possible Business – Wise Repercussions of a Potential Turkish Army intervention into Afrin Region in Northern Syria
  • PKK-PYD-ISIS, Interactions; Future Possibilities on the Regional Terrorism Developments

See all our products

 

Regional Developments

Delivery of second batch of S-400s to be completed in 2020: Turkey expects the second batch of Russian S-400 missile system supplies to be delivered in 2020, a senior Turkish official has told a private broadcaster.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/delivery-of-second-batch-of-s-400s-to-be-completed-in-2020-official-145443

Accessed on Aug 1, 2019

Syria regime agrees conditionally to Idlib truce: Syrian government has agreed to a truce with rebels in the northwestern region of Idlib on the condition that a Turkish-Russian buffer-zone deal is implemented, state news agency SANA reported.

https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/08/article/syria-regime-agrees-conditionally-to-idlib-truce/

Accessed on Aug 1, 2019

No plans to integrate S-400 into any NATO system: NATO chief: "There are no plans to integrate the Russian S-400 into any NATO integrated air and missile defense system," Jens Stoltenberg said in a news conference on the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in Brussels.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-plans-to-integrate-s-400-into-any-nato-system-nato-chief-145503

Accessed on Aug 3, 2019

Erdoğan Says Turkey to Deploy Troops East of Euphrates: Turkey can no longer “stay silent” about the threat posed by U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters and will deploy troops east of the Euphrates River, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-04/erdogan-says-turkey-to-deploy-troops-east-of-euphrates

Accessed on Aug 4, 2019

Syria explosion; 26 soldiers killed in blast at air base: Twenty-six soldiers have been killed in an explosion blamed on a technical error in central Syria, according to a Syrian pro-government newspaper.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-explosion-air-base-soldiers-killed-military-a9038831.html

Accessed on Aug 4, 2019

'Stop the eco-slaughter', Thousands march in Turkey against Canadian-owned gold mine: Thousands of people have gathered around the outskirts of a small town in western Turkey to protest against a Canadian-owned gold mine project they say will negatively impact the environment.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/stop-eco-slaughter-thousands-march-against-canadian-own-gold-mine-project

Accessed on Aug 5, 2019

Syrian rebels say ready to back Turkish-led operation in northeast: Syrian rebel commanders said that they are ready to join Turkish troops in an offensive to seize back largely Arab-populated towns and villages in northeast Syria held by Kurdish-led-forces.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey-rebels/syrian-rebels-say-ready-to-back-turkish-led-operation-in-northeast-idUSKCN1UV216

Accessed on Aug 5, 2019

Annual inflation rate in July at 16.65%: The annual inflation in July rose by 0.93 percentage points from 15.72 percent previous month.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/annual-inflation-rate-in-july-at-16-65-145519

Accessed on Aug 5, 2019

ISIS is using a Syrian Detention Camp to rebuild in Syria: ISIS is attempting resurgence in Syria and it is using both the desert and a massive displaced persons camp to regrow its network, according to a new US report.

https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-is-using-a-Syrian-detention-camp-to-rebuild-in-Syria-597907

Accessed on Aug 7, 2019

Turkey, U.S. agree to form joint operation center for Syria safe zone: Turkey and the United States agreed to establish a joint operation center in Turkey to coordinate and manage a planned safe zone in northeast Syria, a move that appeared to reduce the chance of imminent Turkish military action.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey/turkey-u-s-agree-to-form-joint-operation-center-for-syria-safe-zone-idUSKCN1UX0Y9

Accessed on Aug 7, 2019

Greece, Israel, U.S., and Cyprus to boost energy cooperation: Greece, Israel, Cyprus and the United States agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, cyber and infrastructure security, Greek Energy Minister Hatzidakis said after ministers of the four countries met in Athens.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-energy-eastmed/greece-israel-u-s-cyprus-to-boost-energy-cooperation-idUSKCN1UX1EP

Accessed on Aug 7, 2019

US deploys more military, logistics equipment in Syria: US sends 70 trucks of armored military vehicles, prefabricated buildings, fuel tankers to YPG/PKK terrorists.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/us-deploys-more-military-logistics-equipment-in-syria/1554302

Accessed on Aug 10, 2019

Turkey won't let fait accompli in Cyprus, E Med: Defense minister: "We have defended the rights of our own and the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to the end and will continue [to defend]. Nobody should test our strength," Akar said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-wont-let-fait-accompli-in-cyprus-e-med-defense-minister-145694

Accessed on Aug 11, 2019

Russia; Syrian Constitutional Committee launch imminent: Kremlin confirms Russia, Turkey, and Iran in preparation for Syria summit on Sept. 11 in Ankara.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/russia-syrian-constitutional-committee-launch-imminent/1556083

Accessed on Aug 13, 2019

Jihadist group says it shot down Syrian warplane over Idlib: The jihadist group Tahrir al-Sham said it shot down a warplane over Idlib province, identifying the jet as a Sukhoi 22.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-warplane-statement/jihadist-group-says-it-shot-down-syrian-warplane-over-idlib-idUSKCN1V41NF

Accessed on Aug 14, 2019

35 years on, PKK’s bloody terror attacks remain vivid: Since 1984, terrorist PKK responsible for deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including countless women, children, and infants

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/35-years-on-pkks-bloody-terror-attacks-remain-vivid-3498076

Accessed on Aug 15, 2019

Turkey Security Incident Overview – 1 Month

(July 15 – Aug 15, 2019)

Turkey Security Incident Overview – 3 Months

(May 15 – Aug 15, 2019)

Prominent Regional Security Issue

Security Solutions for Kaz Mountains Case

A Canada-based company recently started gold mining operations in Kaz (Ida) Mountains in the Northwestern part of Turkey. The gold mine location is known as Turkey’s one of the most outstanding areas of natural wealth. The company has allegedly cut four times the number of trees than it declared according to the Environmental Impact Report. Deforestation practice was widely publicized in the national and international media. It is also publicized that cyanide would be used for gold mining and whole area would be contaminated. These concerns have resulted widespread protests against the project.

It has been revealed that the company had prepared a risk analysis including five vital risks one of which was “community relations”. According to the analysis, 3-6 months of delay was forecasted in case of social disapproval for the project. This risk has become reality and disapproval has turned into protests. Limited number of gendarmerie personnel has been trying to control the crowd and mining site.

Media reports indicate that thousands of people gathered, and some has started to occupy the area. It is not an option to employ more private security personnel to deal with the protesters. Law enforcement should be on the first line to interact with the crowd. In this case, there should be very close collaboration between law enforcement units and private security managers. Security personnel should be one step back from the scene and should be in low profile. Additionally, security personnel should be informed how to communicate with the people in a proper way. Security Managers and personnel should respect the sensitivity of the crowd.  

Physical security measures should be installed into the mining site including fences, barriers etc. Thus, security managers can keep annoyed crowds out of the mining site and valuable assets. It is known that project is very new and gold production has not started yet.  If there are no CCTV systems installed yet, UAV’s should be the first choice either to observe the crowd and the mining site.

DRK Highlights: Security Management for Mining Site Operations

DRK is conceptually well prepared for versatile security concerns such as Bridge Security, Farm Security, and Mining Site Security etc. Mining and mineral processing operations face many types of risks, including workplace health and safety, environmental, public health and safety, regulatory, production, reputation, conflict minerals and bribery. The risk impacts as well as their controls should be evaluated for the potential adversities against the company’s financial position, reputation and operation license.

Widespread security precautions for mining sites include; access control systems, physical security guards, CCTV solutions, metal detectors, continuous aerial observation (UAV’s). Following issues are key to ensure security in a gold mining site: Buffer (Restricted) zones, Technological and physical monitoring, Intelligence, collaboration with governmental agencies, Screening and Vetting, Communication, Gold Fingerprinting.

    

Technology in Security World: Road Traps

Road trap is a system used as a physical protection measure. They are installed in order to protect the security project perimeter. Traps are made of solid materials which is capable to blow intruders’ tires up. Such physical components may be permanently installed or portable.

A blade of the trap varies in size and operational method. Blades can be controlled manually, or automatically. Blades of the trap can be concealed or left visible 24/7. The height of the blades surely differs from each security project. It is possible to make production in special sizes depending on security project need and identified threat.

Thanks to the latest technological developments, such traps are made of very solid material and very capable to stop intruders. These traps are very common in use as a part physical component of security projects such as malls, entrance/exit of parking lot, designated one way traffic zone etc.

DRK Risk & Security Consulting

Mustafa Kemal Mah. Dumlupınar Blv .Tepe Prime No:266 A Blok Kat :6 No:82 Çankaya/ANKARA/TURKEY
Phone : +90 312 970 1982
Fax : +90 850 220 0451