Erdoğan to Greece: Open the gates to migrants, get rid of this burden

Duvar English - Reuters

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged Greece to open its borders to migrants, as thousands of migrants continue their attempts to enter Greece through Turkey.

"These people won't stay in your country. Why are you bothered? Open your gates and get rid of this burden. Let them go to other European countries," Erdoğan said in Istanbul on March 8.

Greek police open fire on migrants on Turkish border

During his speech, Erdoğan also said that he would meet European Union officials on March 9 to discuss migration, while repeating his call for more help in coping with the millions of refugees it hosts from neighbouring war-torn Syria.

Facing a further influx of Syrians fleeing the fighting, Turkey recently said it would no longer abide by a 2016 deal to prevent them from travelling on to the EU.

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

Turkey hosts some 3.6 million refugees from southern neighbour Syria, where civil war has been raging since 2011.

Greek police open fire on migrants on Turkish border

"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 get different results this time," Erdoğan said.

Under the 2016 deal, the EU were to provide 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to help Turkey finance housing, schools and medical centres for the refugees.

Turkey says the EU has failed to honour promises including visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and an enhanced customs union. Ankara also wants more European support in Syria, where its troops are supporting rebels against Russian-backed Syrian government forces.