Refugees Started to be Returned to Turkey
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The first group of refugees have been brought back to Turkey within the scope of the agreement between Turkey and the EU.
State-run Anadolu Agency (AA) has reported that the 131 refugees brought to Dikili district of İzmir province from Lesbos Island of Greece are predominantly Pakistani citizens.
The refugees escorted by security forces from the EU border security agency, Frontex have been brought to Dikili port in Turkey's western İzmir district from Lesbos Island of Greece. Boats and helicopters of Coast Guard Commandership as well escorted the ship.
AA stated that refugees on the ship are predominantly Pakistani citizens.
Scores of press members are also at site to follow sending back the refugees. The ships that the refugees got off have been encircled with awnings.
The refuges will go through physical examination after their procedures are completed.
Minister of Interior, Efkan Ala in his statement on April 3 had said they let Greece know that they want 500 people for today, and they gave names of 400 people as of this moment.
Turkey-EU agreement
“1-for-1 exchange program” which was discussed at the European Union Summit that witnessed talks on Syrian refugee crisis on March 18 is being put into effect today.
EU-Turkey agreement has been aiming to halt mass movement of refugees into Europe.
Turkey at the summit had brought this formula on the agenda on purpose of “breaking the chain of human trafficking and taking undocumented immigration under control”.
The refugees who reached Greece but didn’t apply for asylum or did apply but rejected have been started to be sent back to Turkey within the scope of the agreement as of today.
Greece has evacuated the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos within the frame of agreement between the sides at Turkey-EU Summit in which Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu attended in Brussels on March 18.
Greek parliament approved the bill as to sending back the refugees with 169 votes in favor and 107 against on April 1, Friday.
Germany after the bill passed has declared that it is going to be the first EU country to accept refugees.
The Amnesty in its statement noted that the refugees have been sent back to Syria from Turkey. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement denied this allegation.
What is 1-for-1 program?
According to the program to start tomorrow, one Syrian in Turkey will be settled in an EU country in exchange for one Syrian sent to Turkey from Greek islands.
The program will give primacy to disabled, people in need of nursing, and women, girls, and children at risk.
The implementation known as “1-for-1 exchange formula” will involve 72,000 Syrian asylum seekers for now.
The exchange program will not increase the number of asylum seekers in Turkey. (BK/TK)
* Photos: Evren Atalay, Eşber Ayaydın, Ayhan Mehmet, Cem Öksüz / AA
