President Erdogan asks for Germanys support for Turkeys EU bid
Politics |
Turkey is ready to "open all channels of cooperation" to help the European Union resolve an escalating refugee crisis at its borders, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Sunday at a joint meeting with German opposite number Angela Merkel.
Davutoglu stressed, however, that it was essential to find a resolution to the Syrian conflict to ensure a permanent end to the crisis, the worst of its kind facing the 28-nation bloc since World War II.
Merkel said the world was facing a "crisis beyond control", adding that cooperation between German and Turkish government should grow to adequately tackle the refugee influx.
Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's stance on the necessity of establishing a safe zone in northern Syria "for there not to be new waves of migration".
Meanwhile, the Chancellor said Germany was willing to help revive Turkey's stalling EU accession process by opening the Economy and Monetary Policy chapter to negotiations.
An EU summit in Brussels called on Friday for implementing an action plan with Turkey -- which came complete with several economic and political incentives for Ankara -- to stop the flow of refugees into Europe.
There are 2.5 million refugees in Turkey, and the country has so far spent $8 billion on refugees, while support from other world countries amounted to only $417 million.
According to the plan, EU would offer economic aid and humanitarian assistance for refugees hosted in Turkey, which is keen to establish a safe area for refugees to live inside Syria.
Under the action plan, presented by the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker to Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Oct. 5, the EU offered 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) in humanitarian assistance for refugees hosted in Turkey, which has asked for 3 billion euros in aid.
In addition, the EU leaders agreed to accelerate the visa liberalization process for Turkish citizens seeking to visit the 28-nation blocs Schengen borderless zone if Turkey manages to reduce the flow of refugees coming into Europe.
- Erdogan asks for Germanys support for Turkeys EU bid
After the meeting with Davutoglu, Chancellor Merkel met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday.
During a joint press conference at the Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, Erdogan said the two leaders evaluated Turkeys accession progress, with particular emphasis on chapters related to economy and judicial matters.
Erdogan said that he asked for the support of Germany, as well as that of France, the U.K. and Spain to help push Ankara's accession agenda forward.
The German chancellor for her part touched on Turkeys refugee response, saying: We are aware that Turkey shouldered a very tough burden by accepting more than 2 million refugees to this day.
Merkel said they could see that this refugee movement can grow and refugees can continue flowing from Turkey to the EU. In this regard, we argue that we should certainly share Turkeys burden, she said.
Anadolu Agency
Merkel said the world was facing a "crisis beyond control", adding that cooperation between German and Turkish government should grow to adequately tackle the refugee influx.
Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's stance on the necessity of establishing a safe zone in northern Syria "for there not to be new waves of migration".
Meanwhile, the Chancellor said Germany was willing to help revive Turkey's stalling EU accession process by opening the Economy and Monetary Policy chapter to negotiations.
An EU summit in Brussels called on Friday for implementing an action plan with Turkey -- which came complete with several economic and political incentives for Ankara -- to stop the flow of refugees into Europe.
There are 2.5 million refugees in Turkey, and the country has so far spent $8 billion on refugees, while support from other world countries amounted to only $417 million.
According to the plan, EU would offer economic aid and humanitarian assistance for refugees hosted in Turkey, which is keen to establish a safe area for refugees to live inside Syria.
Under the action plan, presented by the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker to Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Oct. 5, the EU offered 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) in humanitarian assistance for refugees hosted in Turkey, which has asked for 3 billion euros in aid.
In addition, the EU leaders agreed to accelerate the visa liberalization process for Turkish citizens seeking to visit the 28-nation blocs Schengen borderless zone if Turkey manages to reduce the flow of refugees coming into Europe.
- Erdogan asks for Germanys support for Turkeys EU bid
After the meeting with Davutoglu, Chancellor Merkel met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday.
During a joint press conference at the Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, Erdogan said the two leaders evaluated Turkeys accession progress, with particular emphasis on chapters related to economy and judicial matters.
Erdogan said that he asked for the support of Germany, as well as that of France, the U.K. and Spain to help push Ankara's accession agenda forward.
The German chancellor for her part touched on Turkeys refugee response, saying: We are aware that Turkey shouldered a very tough burden by accepting more than 2 million refugees to this day.
Merkel said they could see that this refugee movement can grow and refugees can continue flowing from Turkey to the EU. In this regard, we argue that we should certainly share Turkeys burden, she said.
Anadolu Agency
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