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TURKEY BLACKMAILS EU BUREAUCRACY, THREATENS TO SEND MORE REFUGEES TO EUROPE



According to the Turkish Interior Minister, Ankara could send 15,000 refugees a month to Europe and “blow its mind.”


Photo: EPA / Yannis Kolesidis

Turkey has threatened to open the way for 15,000 refugees to the EU monthly, if the block continues its unfriendly policy towards Ankara, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Thursday, citing Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.


“I’m telling you, Europe, do you have that courage? If you want, we could open the way for 15,000 refugees that we don’t send each month and blow your mind,” the newspaper quoted his words.

The minister noted that Europe cannot ‘play its games’ in the region, ignoring Turkey. Soylu also accused Europe of failing to help Turkey to join the EU and not providing support in the Ankara’s fight against terrorism.

The Minister also said that Germany and the Netherlands were involved in anti-government protests in Turkey in 2013, Kurdish demonstrations in October 2014 and the failed coup attempt on the night of July 16 in Turkey.

He also urged Germany and the Netherlands not to interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs, in particular, when it comes to a referendum on expansion of the president’s powers.


“This is our internal issue. What do you care? Why are you getting involved in it? Did you accept Turkey into the European Union? Did you provide support to Turkey in its fight against terrorism?” Soylu said. “There are games being played against Turkey in order to prevent it from becoming strong in the future,” he added.

The minister went on to state that Turkey is in its strongest period and that “some people can’t handle it.”

Earlier, the Turkish authorities already hinted at a possibility of rupture of the agreement on regulation of migration flows to the EU, which was concluded with Brussels on March 18, 2016.

On March 15, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik said that Ankara no longer sees any reasons to adhere to the agreement with the EU on migration, and the agreements should be revised. The statement was made amid a sharp aggravation of relations between Turkey and a number of European countries.

On March 11, the Dutch authorities did not allow a Turkish plane with the country’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu onboard to land in Rotterdam. The minister planned to deliver a speech at a public rally in Rotterdam and tell his compatriots about the constitutional amendments, put to the referendum, which should be held in Turkey on April 16.

They also banned a speech of Turkish Family Affairs Minister, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, who came by car from Germany and wanted to meet with the Turkish community.

In response, Ankara sent two notes of protest to the Netherlands and later announced a ban on the entry to the country of the Netherlands ambassador to Turkey, as well as canceled all diplomatic flights from the Netherlands to Turkey and high-level meetings with Dutch representatives.

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