EU rejects Turkey’s ‘blackmail’
PARIS: The European Union will not give in to “blackmail” by Turkey and borders will remain closed to migrants despite Ankara’s threat to let them pass, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-yves Le Drian said Wednesday.
“The borders of Greece and the Schengen Area are closed, and we will ensure they stay closed” despite attempts to enter by thousands of migrants who have massed on Turkey’s frontier since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they would be allowed to cross into the EU, Le Drian told senators.
Erdogan has warned Europe that it must support his “solutions” to end the conflict in Syria if it wants to avoid a new migrant crisis, despite a 2016 deal to stop the flow of refugees in exchange for billions of euros.
Tensions have soared over Ankara launched an offensive against Syria’s Russia-backed forces after more than 50 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib Province in recent weeks.
Close to one million people in Idlib have been displaced by the Syrian government assault, which is backed by Russian air power, though they are currently blocked from entering Turkey.
Le Drian said Erdogan needs to clarify his intentions with his allies in the NATO alliance, instead of demanding their support only after taking unilateral action in Syria.
“We will need to quickly have a frank and serious public discussion with Turkey to know where each stands and where our common interests lie, otherwise we will not get out of this,” he said.
Senior Swedish politicians condemned farright leader Jimmie Akesson on Wednesday for travelling to Greece to tell migrants that his country was full.
Migration minister Morgan Johansson led the criticism, telling news agency TT that the stunt was “totally ridiculous” and that Sweden Democrats chief Akesson had only gone to the border to “pose for cameras”.
Akesson’s party confirmed he had visited Greece, writing on Twitter: “We all remember the migration chaos of 2015 and we have to do everything we can to make sure it never ever happens again.” Thousands of migrants have massed at the Greek frontier since Turkey announced last week that they would no longer be prevented from crossing into the European Union.
Akesson reportedly handed out flyers with the message “Sweden is full”.