Given the worsening situation in Syria, the EU is facing a new asylum crisis. Thousands of refugees are trying to cross the Turkish-Greek border. Merkel is alarmed.
- The situation on the EU’s external border with Turkey is coming to a head.
- Turkey’s President Erdogan threatens the European Union with the termination of the Refugee Pact.
- Tens of thousands of refugees are trying to enter the EU.
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Update from March 3, 2020, 8.07 a.m .: The Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan now explicitly demanded from the Chancellor Angela Merkel a fair burden sharing on refugees, He had already stressed in a television speech on Monday that the EU had to bear its “part of the burden”. In a phone call to Merkel, Erdogan then pointed out that the Burden of refugees and the responsibility for them to be shared fairly and international obligations to be met, it said in the night of Tuesday in a message from Turkey. After the dramatic developments on the Greek-Turkish border top politicians from the EU institutions visit the Greek border town today Orestiadato get an idea of the situation. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council Head Charles Michel and the European Parliament president, David Sassoli, therefore travel to the northeast of Greece.
Turkey / Greece: Video to show refugee killed
Update 8.45pm: In the social networks, a video allegedly has one of the Greek border guards Syrian migrants shot dead. The government in Athens immediately called the content a fake. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas called it “Turkish propaganda” on Twitter. Other voices, however, consider the video to be real.
You can see a group of excitedly speaking men gathering around an apparently killed young man. The lifeless victim has blood on his face. There is on the net at least two shots of the scene, “Go to the side so that he can breathe,” can be heard there in Arabic. At the same time, the horror of those involved can be seen. A male voice says in Arabic that the Greek army is responsible for the incident.
Turkey / Greece border area: Was a refugee killed?
Journalist Mughira Al Sharif, who reports for the BBC, among others, wrote on Twitter that the person killed was one Syrian refugee from Aleppo, The Syrian was killed by the Greek border guards on Monday morning when trying to cross the Turkish-Greek border.
The prominent one Arab TV journalist Jenan Moussa spread another shot of the scene. She wrote on Twitter that the 22-year-old victim from Aleppo was fatally hit by rubber bullets from the Greek border guards. You spoke to the young man’s family. Due to the drastic images, we do not include the tweets here – however, a video can be seen here on Twitter,
In addition, Turkey throws the Greek coast guard plans to put refugees at risk, Here, too, a video is spreading on the net, which should show how a boat of the Greek coast guard cuts off the path of a crowded inflatable boat. There is then a risk of capsizing. You can also see how a crew member apparently hits the people in the rubber dinghy with a stick and another Greek shoots first into the air and then into the water to intimidate the people. The recordings were made Sky News leaked.
The Turkish authorities have leaked a video to Sky-News to show the violent action by the Greek coast guard against people on a crowded inflatable boat. Unfortunately, it is feared that it is not a fake. #lesbos #lesvos #moria pic.twitter.com/nitzKxEEmt
– Erik Marquardt (@ErikMarquardt) March 2, 2020
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Turkey / Greece: Erdogan threatens with millions of refugees
Update, 4.45 p.m .: Because of his dealings with refugees, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized harshly. “The Turkish president does not currently feel adequately supported,” said Merkel in Berlin on Monday. With all understanding, however, it is “completely unacceptable that this should now be carried out on the backs of refugees. Because the refugees have now been put in a situation where they go to the border and basically end up in a dead end ”. Whether Merkel really learned something from the refugee crisis of 2015meanwhile, Merkur editor-in-chief Georg Anastasiadis wonders in his comment.
EU Commissioner for Migration shoots against Erdogan: “Nobody can blackmail the European Union”
Update, 16:28: In view of the tense situation on the EU’s external border with Turkey, Margaritis Schinas, EU Commissioner for Migration, has taken a sharp tone. “Nobody can blackmail and intimidate the European Union,” said Schinas on Monday in Berlin.
The current situation is a crisis. However, it offers the EU the chance to “defend the external borders together, show solidarity with Greece and Bulgaria” and at the same time continue a comprehensive reform of the migration law.
Schinas said that he had already asked the EU interior and justice ministers to attend an extraordinary meeting to coordinate Greece’s support. He also asked for “considerable reinforcement” from Frontex in the border region.
Turkey / Greece – Erdogan threatens: “Soon there will be talk of millions”
Update, 4:14 p.m .: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens with many other refugees at the country’s EU borders. He made the corresponding comments in two speeches in Ankara on Monday. “The time for one-sided willingness to make sacrifices is now over,” he said. “Since the hour we opened our borders, the number of people heading to Europe has reached several hundred thousand. And there will be more. Soon there will be talk of millions, ”he said.
Turkey and Syria confrontation: Green leader calls for the admission of 5000 refugees
Update, 4 p.m .: Greens boss Annalena Baerbock has demanded that Germany initially remove 5,000 particularly vulnerable people refugee camps on Greek islands. For this there is an application from the Greens in the Bundestag, which can be decided quickly, said Baerbock on Monday in Berlin. She recalled that Germany received 27,000 refugees from Italy and Italy in 2016 Greece had agreed. However, only a good 10,000 had been included under the EU agreement.
The EU countries would have to Greek-Turkish border about “ensuring humanity and order” about Frontex and the European asylum agency, said Baerbock. “It is a question of law and order.” EU border should not be opened in an uncontrolled manner, but there must be the possibility of an orderly border crossing. The people at the border would have to be cared for and registered, and those seeking protection should be brought to safety from the Greek islands.
Turkey / Greece: Federal government warns refugees – way to the EU is “of course not open”
Update, 3:24 p.m .: The Federal government Has refugees and migrants in the Turkey warned of a departure towards Europe. “We are currently experiencing a very worrying situation on the EU’s external borders with Turkey, on land and at sea. We are seeing refugees and migrants who are told by the Turkish side that the way to the EU is now open, and of course it is not, ”said government spokesman Steffen Seibert in Berlin on Monday. When asked whether the Chancellor’s sentence continued to apply that 2015 will not be repeated, he said: “It is valid.”
After the opening of the Border to the EU Greek security forces once again used stun grenades and tear gas against hundreds of migrants. These had tried to cross the border at Kastanies and to get to Greece and thus to the EU, as reported by the Greek state television (ERT). The European crisis diplomacy is in full swing in view of the development.
The Turkish declaration “puts these people, men, women and children in an extremely difficult situation, and it also presents Greece with enormous challenges,” said Seibert. He expressly spoke of “refugees and migrants” – not everyone would agree according to the current definition refugee his.
Against the background of the Syria conflict and the tense situation on the EU border Foreign Minister warned Heiko Maas (SPD) from instrumentalizing refugees. “We cannot allow refugees to be turned into geopolitical interests. Regardless of who tries it, you must always count on our resistance, ”said Maas in Berlin.
Turkey: Erdogan increases pressure on EU borders – remains open
Update, 2:26 p.m .: After opening the Turkish border For refugees has PPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan the pressure on the EU further increased. The borders remained open, Erdogan said on Monday in a televised address to party members. Now it is up to the EU to carry its “part of the burden”. Against the background of increasing tensions in the Syria conflict Erdogan wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Thursday. Both sides confirmed this on Monday.
Erdogan said he hoped that when talking to Putin a fire break could be achieved on Thursday. He hopes that Putin will take the necessary measures, such as a ceasefire, and that we will find a solution to this, Erdogan said. According to the Turkish Presidency, Erdogan will travel to Russia for a one-day visit.
The Kremlin said cooperation with the Turkey against the background of the Syria conflict have high priority. Russia “is extremely important to work with our Turkish partners,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow.
Update, 1.00 p.m .: At the request of the Greek government rapid intervention at the EU’s external border wants the European Border Protection Agency Enter Frontex quickly, “We are looking at how we can best support Greece in the shortest possible time,” the authority said on Twitter on Monday.
Escalation on the Turkish-Greek border: EU politicians want to get an idea of the situation
Update, 12.13 p.m .: After there was a rush of people on the Greek-Turkish border at the weekend, the night there seems to have been a quiet overall, reports the Greek state television. From the Greek side, eyewitnesses observed on Monday morning that there were significantly fewer migrants on the Turkish side of the border crossing.
According to reporters want people to try elsewhere, across the border to come to Greece, Others would have pitched small tents around two kilometers away on the Turkish side. Some politicians have now reacted to the escalation of the situation at the Turkish-Greek border crossing. The Greek head of government Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Monday on Twitter that he was EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council Head Charles Michel and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli will meet on Tuesday at the Greek land border with Turkey. The EU’s top politicians want to get an idea of the situation.
Turkey / Greece border: Friedrich Merz (CDU) warns of “loss of control”
CDU politician Friedrich Merz warned Given the Refugee crowds before a situation like 2015, According to him, there should be a signal to the refugees that “there is no point in coming to Germany,” Merz told the MDR on Monday. And further: “We cannot accept you here.” If there is another situation like last 2015, must Germany of course that too Keep control of your own limitssaid Merz. The word “Loss of control” was rightly used in Germany in 2015 and 2016. This must not be repeated, Merz demands.
Update, 10:44 a.m .: Sad news from the Lesbos Island: As the German Press Agency reports, is a Toddler sinking an inflatable boat off the island on Monday morning drowned, The victim was on board the inflatable boat came from Turkey with 48 migrantsGreek television reported, citing the coast guard. When the migrants saw a patrol boat from the Greek coast guard, they perforated the inflatable boat to be rescued as a shipwreck.
Turkey / Greece / Syria: Any help came too late for the toddler
Because then the coast guard is obliged to take in people and bring them to Greece. The boat sank on Monday morning and the coast guard saved the migrants. But all help came too late for the toddler, the state broadcaster reported.
Update, 9.48 a.m .: ARD reporter Michael Schramm was on the late Sunday afternoon Turkish-Greek border in Katanies near the Turkish city of Edirne. Have there on Sunday afternoon hundreds
Migrants are trying to storm the border, it says at tagesschau.de, In the evening, Schramm gave an assessment of the situation in the daily topics. “It is terrifying to see the number of refugees in front of the border fence increasing,” he said. Many refugees notice theirs Despair if they would have to survive outdoors at night. The reporter also reports that among the refugee groups would be the be very aggressive, “There is always a rumor that there too Turkish intelligence officers among them would be to take on certain management functions. “
Turkey / Greece / Syria: Greek military is on a tough course
On the other hand, they would Greek security forces one driving very hard courseSchramm continues: “There are many coming water cannon to use and a lot tear gas.” The Greek government also decided yesterday to consider any refugee who managed to get to Greece illegal for a month. “It will no asylum procedure opened for him and he has to be deported immediately. “What the Greeks are currently doing is a classic one Push-BackSchramm explains.
in the ARD television a family man also tells of tough action by the Greek military and thereby confirms Schramm’s observations. “The police used tear gas again and again,” he says. “Our baby was then very bad.” Repeatedly large groups of refugees on buses came to the border free of charge, according to the article in the morning magazine. It is not known who provided the buses.
Escalation on the Turkish-Greek border: Refugees with tough accusations against the Greek military
The refugees try to inflate through the river in rubber boats Evros to reach, on the other side of which lies Greece. But wait there greek militaryagainst which many refugees hard reproaches rise. The soldiers are supposed to Take away refugees’ valuables and food, the Beating men and send people back to Turkey, reports a refugee. Nevertheless, many refugees spent the night of Monday on the border between Turkey and Greece – despite the freezing temperatures. So far, the situation is not in sight.
Update, 8.15 a.m .: Because of the massive Andrangs of refugees Has Greece now the highest alarm level. One of the plans is to increase patrols on land and water in the northeast of the country.
As also became known, she says Border Agency Frontex in a confidential paper that there would be “mass migration flows” from Turkey to the EU.
Turkey / Greece / Syria: Frontex with a bleak forecast
Update, March 2, 7:20 a.m .: The location on the Turkish-Greek border will intensify sharply in the coming days – so judges the EU border protection agency Frontex the situation. “It will be difficult to stop the massive flow of people who have traveled,” says an internal Frontex report. In the coming days, “an increase in pressure can still be expected,” it says loudly Frontex further.
Even the inventor of the refugee agreement with Turkey, Gerald Knaus, warned of another refugee crisis, which is even worse than that of 2015. The current situation on the Turkish-Greek border is now heavily debated in politics and society – the TV talk by and with Anne Will had to be canceled on Sunday evening despite this blatant topic. Twitter users made their anger clear on the net.
Turkey / Greece / Syria: UN building on fire – Özdemir accuses Erdogan of “extortion”
Update 10:48 p.m .: Greece will not accept new asylum applications for a month. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Twitter on Sunday.
Update 10:03 p.m .: Bulgaria’s head of government Boiko Borisov will travel to Ankara on Monday to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the situation in Syria and refugee movements. As the Bulgarian government announced on Sunday, the two of them will have dinner “to discuss actions that will help to overcome the crisis in Syria and stop the migratory pressure.”
Update 9:26 pm: In Greece, security forces have had the highest alert since Sunday evening. This applies to both the military and the police, a government spokesman said after a Security Council meeting chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on state television.
In addition, the government spokesman threw the Turkey to act as a kind of “smuggler” and to motivate migrants to come to Greece. Athens also wanted additional ones Apply for help from the European border protection agency Frontex and financial aid from the EU, it was said. The government spokesman said that illegally arrived people should – if possible – be expelled to their countries of origin.
Escalation in Lesbos: UN building on fire, politicians report terrifying conditions
Update 9:12 p.m .: The one initiated by the Turkish government Opening the borders towards the EU not only has dramatic consequences at the Turkish-Greek border crossing at Kastanies / Pazarkule (see 5:18 p.m.) – also on the island of Lesbos The already tense situation is exacerbated, as eyewitnesses report. But despite the aggravation of the situation by Erdogan’s latest move the EU must not be blackmailed now*, Merkur editor Alexander Weber comments.
Angry islanders left around 50 migrants in an inflatable raft on Sunday Thermi port not on land, as AFP photographers reported. They shouted “Go back to Turkey,” insulted a representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), attacked some journalists and photographers. There were also children among the refugees. Near the beach at Skala Sykamineas, an AFP photographer watched as Greeks Set fire to unused UN welcome center for refugees, To information the image the perpetrators were right-wing extremists.
The MEP Erik Marquardt (Greens) confirmed the reports in an interview with the taz and shared a video of the burning UN building. According to him, some of the boats that were unable to maneuver and that were occupied by refugees had not yet been rescued by the coast guard, and in some cases only after repeated insistence. Groups of masked young men threatened and attacked aid workers and journalists, he said. The conditions in the Moria refugee camp are “terrible”: “Everything is full of dirt and mud, the hygienic conditions are a disaster.”
The former reception center “Stage 2” #Lesbos was kindled. Humanitarian workers have been attacked and do not dare to leave the house. The press cannot move freely on the island either. Police are threatening instead of helping. Europe 2020. It’s so shameful. #Lesvos https://t.co/RYvB7ylAMG
– Erik Marquardt (@ErikMarquardt) March 1, 2020
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Marquardt’s party friend Cem Özdemir practiced on twitter meanwhile violent criticism of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, The “military adventure alongside terrorist Islamists” in Syria cost 53 Turkish soldiers their lives within a month, he wrote. Erdogan is now instrumentalizing the refugees “to extort money”.
Chaos on the Turkish border: Herrmann warns of “blackmail”
Update 5.40 p.m .: Bavaria’s interior minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) accuses Turkey of “unfair methods” and politics “on the back of the refugees”. With a view to opening the Turkish borders to Greece and Bulgaria, explained Herrmann the newspapers of the Funke media group, Recep Tayyip Erdogans government apparently wants to increase the pressure on the EU to get more money.
Germany should not be blackmailedHerrmann emphasized. At the same time, he does not expect the Turkey deals – The government in Ankara should have no interest in that. “It is not a one-sided agreement. Turkey also benefits from this, among other things through the billions in payments from the EU. ”
Herrmann tried to appease. There is currently “no new wave of refugees in Germany”. In addition, the Bavarian border police are “excellently positioned”. The minister, however, reiterated his call for a clear one Expansion of the EU border protection agency Frontex,
Turkey: EU foreign ministers plan special meeting – at the request of Greece
Update 5:33 p.m .: The EU foreign ministers come to Greece this week at the request of Greece Special meeting due to the escalation of the conflict in Syria together. This was shared by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday with. He did not give an exact date. The EU must double its efforts to end “this terrible humanitarian crisis with all the means at its disposal,” said Borrell, calling for a ceasefire in Syria.
Also read about the allegations Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was facing in the run-up to the general election in his country.
Turkey: 75,000 people on the border? Greece uses water cannons and tear gas
Update 17.18 p.m .: Around To prevent migrants from crossing the border from Turkey to Greece, the Greek police said on Sunday heavy water cannons and tear gas used, Greek media showed a short video of what happened at a border crossing on the Evros River, which has been closed since Friday.
A Greek police water cannon is used against refugees on the Turkish-Greek border.
© AFP / SAKIS MITROLIDIS
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According to media reports, the migrants had previously hurled stones and other objects at the riot police. A police officer is said to have been injured, according to reports from Greek radio.
Large groups of migrants from numerous countries in the Middle East and Africa have been trying over the already closed since Friday Border crossing at Kastanies / Pazarkule to come to Greece from Turkey. The government in Athens has repeatedly stated that Greece will not tolerate illegal border crossings.
Turkey: Green leader Baerbock wants to reactivate German refugee accommodation as a precaution
Greens boss Annalena Baerbock proposed a quota solution at the weekend to accept migrants from the Turkish-Greek border, in which Germany should also participate. The EU Baerbock claimed in the “world” that it was her duty to support Greece in coping with the situation by all means – financially, human resources, with relief goods and material. “We can’t pretend that it’s none of our business.”
Specifically, it was under high pressure Establish initial reception facilities at the EU’s external borders *. “Refugees who cross the border have to be registered there quickly, subjected to a security check and a data comparison. Of course we have to know who comes to us, ”argued Baerbock. “Then contingents of refugees should be distributed as quickly as possible in the EU in order to carry out the asylum procedures there.” “Germany should reactivate its own capacities for refugee accommodation,” explained Baerbock.
Turkey claims: Have over 75,000 migrants migrated to the EU
Update 2.45 p.m .: Turkey says it has until 10 a.m. local time on Sunday morning Let 76,358 migrants cross the border towards the EU, The Turkish interior minister Süleyman Soylu said on Twitter that they had headed for the EU across the border in the province of Edirne. In the province of Edirne there are border crossings to Greece and Bulgaria. However, initially neither Sofia nor Athens confirmed the arrival of large numbers of migrants.
Migrants at a closed Turkish-Greek border crossing
© picture alliance / dpa / Ahmed Deeb
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According to the Ministry of Migration in Athens from Sunday The Greek police have so far prevented around 9,600 migrants from crossing the border, The country also strengthened its units on the border. According to the UN Organization for Migration, more than 13,000 people remain on the Turkish side. They hope to enter the EU after Turkey has made it clear that it is no longer stopping migrants.
Erdogan has opened gates to the EU – the situation on the Greek border is coming to a head – pressure on Merkel is growing
First registration March 1st, 2020, 8.45 a.m .: Ankara / Berlin – After the opening of its borders towards the EU announced by Turkey, according to the UN Organization for Migration, more than 13,000 migrants arrived at the border with Greece, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Twitter that by Saturday evening 36,776 migrants had crossed the border to the European Union. The neighboring EU countries could do that Greece and Bulgaria to not confirm.
Erdogan opens gates to EU refugee deal with Turkey threatens to fail
Previously, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country was no longer holding refugees on their way to Europe. Erdogan said on Saturday that the “gates” of Turkey are now open to refugees who want to go to Europe. There were first clashes at border crossings to Greece on Saturday, in the course of which tear gas was also used against the advancing migrants.
Turkey ‘s action violates the Refugee pact with the EU of 2016. Erdogan justified this with the EU not adhering to the refugee pact concluded in March 2016. Ankara undertook to take back all refugees arriving in the Greek Aegean Islands and to take more action against gangs of traffickers. In return, the EU promised Turkey billions in aid, accelerated visa facilitation and the modernization of the customs union. Erdogan may now be trying to extort more money from the EU to accommodate and care for the refugees.
Turkey is under pressure because of the offensive, the Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad with military support from Russia in the last rebel stronghold Idlib leads. According to the UN, this has been the case since December displaced almost a million people, so that the number of refugees continues to increase in Turkey. Turkey already has more than 3.6 million refugees taken from Syria.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel followed the situation on the EU’s external borders with Turkey with concern. “Our top priority is that Greece and Bulgaria have our full support,” tweeted von der Leyen on Saturday evening. The EU is ready for further support, also with additional forces from the EU border protection agency Frontex.
Our top priority at this stage is to ensure that Greece and Bulgaria have our full support. We stand ready to provide additional support including through #Frontex on the land border. (2/2)
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 29, 2020
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Turkey-EU crisis: Greens and FDP increase pressure on Chancellor Merkel
In view of the escalation of the refugee situation on the EU border with Turkey, the Greens now see Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) as an obligation. A European solution to the distribution of refugees is needed, the Green Group leader said Katrin Goering-Eckardt in the newspapers of the Funke media group from the federal government. If necessary, Merkel would have to “Alliance of the Willing” forge.
FDP General Secretary called for completely different consequences Linda Teuteberg given the reports on the opening of borders by Turkey. “Payments to Turkey must be suspended immediately if President Erdogan breaks agreements,” Teuteberg said Picture on Sunday, Merkel must now “put all its weight into play” so that a situation like 2015 does not repeat itself. In addition, she must emphasize “that an uncontrolled migration to Germany is prevented by all means of the rule of law”.
Norbert Röttgen (CDU) campaigns for understanding Erdogan’s approach – “A call for help”
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Norbert Röttgen (CDU) has warned the European Union against reacting harshly to the latest moves by Turkish President Erdogan. Its announcement that Turkey’s borders with the EU would be open to refugees has “the external form of a threat”, but is in terms of content “a cry for help” to Europe, said Röttgen the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, “This is how we should understand it and not as a provocation,” warned Röttgen. Erdogan had failed in his attempt to work with Russia in Syria, and that is exactly what he is now signaling to the West. His announcement that he would now keep the Turkish borders open to refugees with a view to the EU would mean: “Look, I have failed with my Russia policy, and now I need the Europeans.”
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
Rubric list image: © Twitter screenshots
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