Turkey slams EC official's remarks on migration
According to Anadolu Agency, Turkey on Wednesday slammed a statement by Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice President for Promoting Our European Way of Life, about the country and migration, saying it was more like the political discourses of members of the Greek government than of a European Union official.
In a written statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the commission, which should be the protector of the founding agreements of the European Union, has not launched a serious investigation into violations right at the European Union’s borders.
Therefore, said Aksoy, Turkey reiterated that Schinas must first investigate the violations committed by Greek officials, such as the homicide of Pakistani Muhammad Gulzar, the push-back incidents that continue under the eyes of the EU agencies in the Aegean Sea and Evros River, the rejection of asylum applications of asylum seekers, national practices contrary to international treaties and the EU asylum directive, and violence against human rights defenders.
Aksoy stressed that Turkey is not the EU’s refugee camp or border guardian.
"Our country, which suffers from the irregular migration phenomenon, only wants the fair sharing of burdens and responsibilities," he said.
Aksoy said protection of the EU's external borders by ignoring human rights and the rights of asylum seekers will mean denying the founding agreements of the EU.
Lastly, he said seeing the external borders of Europe as only including Greece means historical and geographical facts are not understood.
Armenian, Azeri FMs to meet on May 10
06 May 2024 / 13:06
Pashinyan will not attend Putin's inauguration, Armenia parliament speaker says
06 May 2024 / 12:59
Azerbaijan hosts World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue
01 May 2024 / 13:38
63 people detained during Tbilisi protest
01 May 2024 / 13:32
Armenia’s Pashinyan spills water on his desk, clothes to explain what he is doing in Tavush Province
30 April 2024 / 13:25
Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs to meet in Kazakhstan
29 April 2024 / 13:40
Aram I: Mr. Erdogan, our ancestors were massacred by your ancestors, don't try to oppose diaspora to Armenia
24 April 2024 / 14:20
Azerbaijan and Armenia start border delimitation process
23 April 2024 / 11:38
Armenia premier: Our society asks why we continue to be member state of CSTO?
23 April 2024 / 11:30
Ilham Aliyev on his way to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin
22 April 2024 / 10:39
German Foreign Ministry reacts to agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on border delimitation
22 April 2024 / 10:32
Is Pashinyan going to attend Putin's inauguration?
17 April 2024 / 14:40
Russian peacekeepers’ pulling out from Nagorno-Karabakh has begun, Kremlin confirms
17 April 2024 / 14:34
Tokayev: Kazakhstan ready to offer platform for Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations
15 April 2024 / 13:37
U.S. refuses to join Israel in retaliatory action against Iran
15 April 2024 / 11:33