Erdoğan: We will Let Refugees Cross into Europe If Syria Safe Zone Not Established
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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made remarks on the "safe zone" planned to be established with the US in northern Syria and refugees in Turkey at his party's provincial chairpersons meeting.
Erdoğan suggested that Syrian refugees in Turkey could be sent to the "safe zone" once it is established, adding that he talked about the matter with US President Donald Trump, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Erdoğan criticized the EU for not providing the necessary support: "Turkey didn't get needed international support, especially from the EU, on Syrian refugee burden. We may have to let them cross into Europe to get support."
Turkey and the EU in 2016 signed an agreement on refugees which included a multi-billion euro aid from the EU to Turkey.
"If you will support us, support us. We can bear this only to a certain point. Will it be only us who carry this burden? You should also see how to carry it," the president added.
According to the figures of the Ministry of Interior, there are 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey under temporary protection status. The recent military operations by the Syrian regime in Idlib is expected to cause a new wave of refugees to come to Turkey.
Erdogan said that Turkey aims to settle at least one million of the Syrians it took in since 2011 in its planned safe zone along Turkey's border with Syria: "Turkey is determined to actively initiate formation of a safe zone in Syria along the eastern line of the Euphrates River in its own way by the last week of September."
Military officials from Turkey and the US reached an agreement on August 7 that a planned safe zone in northern Syria will serve as a "peace corridor" for displaced Syrians wanting to return home and that a Joint Operations Center in Turkey will be set up to coordinate its establishment.
Eastern Mediterranean: "We will continue exploration"
Erdogan also reiterated Turkey's determination to continue its energy exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"No one can try to deprive us of the rights we have in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will champion our rights through the last," said Erdogan.
"The threat of sanctions on our country does not scare us, does not make us retreat, on the contrary only strengthens our determination to go our way," he added.
The EU in July announced sanctions on Turkey over its energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the suspension of high-level talks. Turkey condemned the move, saying sanctions will not deter its activities. (RT/VK)