UK 'concerned' over situation on Greece-Turkey border

LONDON

British government on Tuesday said they are very concerned with the situation on the Greece-Turkey border, underlining the recent crisis is caused by "continued brutal violence by the Syrian regime and Russia."

Responding to an urgent question on the latest situation on the border in the House of Commons, Foreign Office Minister Nigel Adams said the latest violence in the region “has driven millions of refugees into Turkey and beyond.”

“The key to this situation is dialogue so we welcome President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s talks yesterday,” Adams said, referring to Turkish president's meeting with top EU officials on a 2016 deal on refugees between Turkey and the EU.

Adams said the U.K. will continue the EU-Turkey deal as it is “crucial” to manage migration flows and prevent people risking their lives in the Aegean Sea.

“At the same time, we recognize Turkey’s generosity and the burden in supporting millions of refugees who have fled the civil war in Syria,” Adams added.

The minister said Greece and Turkey are facing the migration challenges and “we are providing support to their response.”

“The principle cause of the migration situation is the reckless and brutal nature of the Syrian regime and the Russian offensive in Idlib,” Adams said.

Welcoming the recent ceasefire agreement reached between Turkey and Russia, Adams also said the U.K. is “supporting a political dialogue” to ensure a lasting end to the Syrian conflict.

Adams also urged the Syrian regime and its backers to commit to the peace process in Syria, by engaging in good faith with the constitutional committee in Geneva.

Turkey and the EU have initiated a new phase of dialogue but progress requires “concrete steps” by the EU, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday following Erdogan's yesterday meeting with top EU officials.

Cavusoglu criticized Europe for not welcoming refugees from the embattled province of Idlib, northwestern Syria, along Turkey’s southern border, and not providing support for people seeking asylum from there.

Europe's border does not start at the Turkish-Greek border, he said, but rather at Turkey's southern and eastern frontiers.

The 2016 deal aimed at discouraging irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of some 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

But since then the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey has ballooned to 3.7 million or higher, along with a new refugee wave of a million or more coming from Idlib, Turkish officials have pointed out.

Ankara has also repeatedly decried Europe’s failure to keep its promises under the deal, including delivering less than half of €6 million ($6.8 billion) in funds to help the Syrians in Turkey.

Cavusoglu said that other countries must follow procedures on asylum seekers in line with international law, just as Turkey opened its doors.

He criticized the Greek treatment of asylum seekers waiting at the Turkish-Greek border and describing it as “a shame for humanity.”