Russian-Turkish agreement on military burial sites comes into effect
MOSCOW. July 17 (Interfax) - The Russian-Turkish intergovernmental agreement on military burial sites has entered into force, the official legal information portal said.
The document was signed on December 3, 2012, ratified in November 2013 and came into effect on July 16, 2017.
Under this agreement, the parties agree to assist each other in detecting and recording burial sites, ensuring care and upkeep for burial sites in Russia and Turkey. In addition, as part of the document, the countries will address the issues of the transfer and the reburial of remains of servicemen who had died during both world wars and other campaigns.
Russia and Turkey will inform each other through diplomatic channels about the existence, the location and the state of graves, exchange lists and personal data of the deceased servicemen buried in both countries' territories.
"The parties ensure care, upkeep and protection of graves located in the territories of states in accordance with the legislation of own countries and considering national and religious traditions of the peoples in the states," the document said.
In addition, Russia and Turkey will provide necessary assistance to citizens of both countries in visiting graves and grant each other the right to monitor the condition of burial sites.
Both counties will immediately inform each other in case of illegal actions committed against graves and funerary monuments and put burial sites to order.
The agreement envisages granting plots of land under existing or newly created burial sites to use in perpetuity, the transfer of remains should be carried out with the approval of the other party at the expense of the country where they are buried.
The joint commission will coordinate concerted efforts and it also should address various emerging disputes.