Migration from Afghanistan: Erdoğan says Turkey won't be Europe's 'refugee storehouse'

Photo: AA

As the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan triggers a new migration wave, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Turkey will not be "Europe's refugee storehouse."

"Turkey has no duty, responsibility, or obligation to be Europe's refugee storehouse," he told a press conference following a cabinet meeting yesterday (August 19).

"We need to remind our European friends this fact: Europe, which has become a magnet for millions of people, can't stay outside of the problem by mercilessly closing its borders to protect their citizens' security and welfare," the president noted.

Erdoğan's statement marked a departure from his remarks two weeks ago when he said, "We are taking refugees because we manage the financing well and we'll continue to take them."

Over the past one-and-a-half months, hundreds of Afghan refugees have been crossing into Turkey from Iran every day as the US-led forces were withdrawing from the country.

The new migration wave escalated anti-refugee sentiments in the country that already hosts about four million refugees, including 3.6 million Syrians and over 100,000 Afghans.

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Opposition parties have accused Erdoğan of making a secret deal with the US to accept refugees from Afghanistan.

Both the US and Turkey have dismissed these claims, which emerged after the US Department of State suggested Turkey as a possible application spot for Afghans who worked together with the US and their families.

Erdoğan also said that he understands people's uneasiness about the new refugee wave and said that the government was working to complete the wall on the Iran border. So far, a wall has been built on a 157-kilometer part of the 534-kilometer long border, he noted.

The situation in Afghanistan

Erdoğan further said Turkey is committed to the stability and security of Afghanistan.

"We will meet with the government formed by the Taliban if necessary, and discuss our mutual agendas," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said following a five-hour Cabinet meeting at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara.

The Taliban seized control of the country's capital Kabul on Sunday, forcing President Ashraf Ghani and other top government officials to leave the country.

Noting that there are 5,000 citizens of Turkey residing in Afghanistan for various reasons, Erdogan said 500 Turkish citizens along with 83 foreign nationals were brought to Turkey upon request.

"We will transfer our citizens, who are still waiting in line for their return, whose number is below 300, to our country as soon as possible," he added. (VK)