Erdogan to discuss migrant crisis with EU, urges Greece to 'open your gates'

By Ezgi Erkoyun

 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Silivri near Istanbul, Turkey, March 8, 2020. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

 

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Greece on Sunday to "open your gates" to refugees trying to enter the European Union from Turkey and said he hoped to win more help from the EU at talks on Monday.

 

Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece, an EU member state, since Turkey said on Feb. 28 it would no longer try to keep them on its territory - as agreed in 2016 with the EU in return for billions of euros in aid.

 

Turkey hosts about 3.6 million war refugees from Syria, where its troops and allied rebel forces are battling Russian-backed government forces, and says the EU has failed to honour promises made to Ankara.

 

"We were hoping to get much more support from the international community when it comes to refugees," Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul. "I have a meeting with European Union officials tomorrow in Belgium. We will discuss these issues."

 

In response, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "negotiating on the backs of the weakest" would not yield the desired result.

 

More than 1 million migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Asia, reached the EU in 2015 and 2016, most of them travelling through Turkey and Greece, until the agreement stopped the flow in March 2016. Turkey now fears a new influx of refugees following the latest fighting in Syria.

 

"We have fulfilled the obligations of the agreement we have made with the EU. However, the EU did not fulfil its commitments except for minimal contributions ... I hope we will achieve different results this time," Erdogan said.

 

"FAIR SHARING OF THE BURDEN"

Under the 2016 deal, the EU was to provide 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to help Turkey finance housing, schools and medical centres for the refugees. Erdogan said Turkey had received only half of this so far.

 

Turkey says the EU has not carried out promises of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and an enhanced customs union. Ankara also wants more European support in Syria, where it aims to build settlements for refugees to return to northern Syria.

 

Erdogan is due to meet Charles Michel, who chairs summits of EU leaders, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU's executive Commission.

 

"If there is a shortage of money for providing essential humanitarian aid to refugees, whether in Turkey, Idlib or Jordan and Lebanon, we (the EU) will never refuse to talk," Maas told Funke newspapers on Sunday. "But that depends on Turkey sticking to its side of the bargain."

 

EU foreign ministers said last week they were ready to take "all necessary measures" to stop illegal crossings into Greece, but Erdogan said the migrants would not stay in Greece once they had crossed.

 

"Greece, I am calling on you from here, you too should open your gates and let them go," he said. "We are looking for fair sharing of the burden."

 

Greece says it has thwarted thousands of attempts by migrants to cross by land from Turkey since last week.

 

(Additional reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-09

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53 minutes ago, webfact said:

Ankara also wants more European support in Syria, where it aims to build settlements for refugees to return to northern Syria.

Ie, legitimise Turkey's, IMO, illegal occupation of a neighbouring country.

 

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

In response, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "negotiating on the backs of the weakest" would not yield the desired result.

Seems they learned the lesson the last time.

 

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

Turkey now fears a new influx of refugees following the latest fighting in Syria.

Given the fighting continues because of Turkey's support of the rebels, that would seem self inflicted. Syria is, IMO, going to win back Idlib, but the longer the Turks keep the conflict going, the more refugees will be created.

Nato member Turkey shoots teargas granades at the border forces of Nato member Greece and supplies violent invaders - aka "asylum seekers" - with tools to cut the fence.

EU-appeaser's reaction: More money for the criminal Erdogan.

It is interesting how the West supported the removal of Ghadafi and Hussain, yes still keep this tyrant in power.

 

I wonder when his usefulness will come to an end. Hopefully very soon.

When , ( in TV news ) , I see very aggressive young Syrian men trying to force their way through the closed greek border , throwing stones and Molotov cocktails , I ask myself if it would really be a good idea to let them in ...?

 

Fair enough, let's deport 1 Turk for every Syrian - t1t for tat and all that

7 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

When , ( in TV news ) , I see very aggressive young Syrian men trying to force their way through the closed greek border , throwing stones and Molotov cocktails , I ask myself if it would really be a good idea to let them in ...?

 

 

They aren't even all Syrian. Many are Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghans and the usual assorted Africans.

 

Keep your doors shut Greece. Man up EU.

I dont understand why so many People of a certain Religion want to go and live in Countries they cannot stand or integrate with, why are they not moving to Arab countries of the same beliefs,

8 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Fair enough, let's deport 1 Turk for every Syrian - t1t for tat and all that

That's Germany screwed for cheap labour then,

6 minutes ago, Thongkorn said:

I dont understand why so many People of a certain Religion want to go and live in Countries they cannot stand or integrate with, why are they not moving to Arab countries of the same beliefs,

Might it be the social welfare system in the countries of the infidels? 

No visa, no entry - simple!

If the EU was serious they could easily resolve this situation by suspending Turkeys free trade agreement until such time as they behave civilized. 

"This is just the beginning. You should see what will happen next. What has happened so far was nothing"

Suleyman Soylu, Turkey's interior minister

 

Stay strong, Greece!

 

90% of the Greeks are supporting the decision tp close the borders.

81% of the Greeks endorse the exacerbated migration policy.

 

Hard times for German hyper moralists and no-border-morons.

12 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

It is interesting how the West supported the removal of Ghadafi and Hussain, yes still keep this tyrant in power.

 

It's also amazing how the US started all this by removing Sadam Hussein and now they are soo quiet.

10 hours ago, Thongkorn said:

I dont understand why so many People of a certain Religion want to go and live in Countries they cannot stand or integrate with, why are they not moving to Arab countries of the same beliefs,

They come to colonize Christians country

(Erdogan encourage it many times on TV from very long time,

and now he say "dont make only 3 childrens, make 5 !"

 

 

 

But no medias will let you talk about that...

(they say "racist" to everybody speak about immigration)

And at the bottom of the pile of world detritus is Erdog a bloke that would make any general here look like a choirboy his quest to eradicate the kurds will never end until someone ends him ????  

20 hours ago, Thongkorn said:

I dont understand why so many People of a certain Religion want to go and live in Countries they cannot stand or integrate with, why are they not moving to Arab countries of the same beliefs,

Perhaps said countries won't take them.