‘Turkey should not be Europe’s concentration camp’
Ankara, Oct 26 (IANS) Turkey’s main opposition party leader Kemal Kiliçdaroglu said Turkey should not be Europe’s “concentration camp” referring to recent meetings with the European Union (EU) over the ongoing migrant crisis, the media reported on Monday.
“Turkey should not become Europe’s concentration camp. We cannot accept that. Let aside 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion), even if the European countries offer to give 13 billion euros, Turkey should not accept becoming the ‘concentration camp’ of Europe,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu told Hurriyet Daily News.
“The European countries are telling Turkey that ‘we will give you the money, you will keep the Syrians.’ This is not acceptable or ethical,” said Kilicdaroglu.
The CHP leader was referring to the EU’s recent offer to give Turkey three billion euros a year and eased visa travel for Turks in return for cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants.
Recalling that more than 2 million Syrians have taken shelter in Turkey fleeing civil war, Kilicdaroglu said the CHP will make efforts to bring peace in Syria.
“Syrians in Turkey will themselves return to their countries when peace will come,” he added.
The CHP leader also criticised the government for its foreign policy and vowed to end the “flow of arms from Turkey to Syria” if his party comes to power after the November 1 general elections in Turkey.
“If we come to the power, our first job will be halting the transportation of arms from Turkey to Syria. We will cut the links of radical organisations in (Syria) with our country. Then we will work for peace,” Kilicdaroglu added.
On Octber 19, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also said Turkey is “not a concentration camp” and will not host migrants permanently to appease the EU, which wants Turkey to stop the flow of people to Europe.
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