Merkel: Turkey worth 3 billion euros role in the refugee crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu pledged on Friday to continue to work intensively together to solve Europe’s migrant crisis — not only to stem the flow of people but to improve conditions in camps in Turkey and to try and bring about a peace deal in Syria.

“The refugee crisis is not Germany’s crisis, it is not Europe’s crisis, it is not Turkey’s crisis,” Davutoglu said in a joint press conference with Merkel. “It is a crisis that was born out of the crisis in Syria. If we cooperate we can bring this crisis under control. If we throw the issue at each other, solving this issue will become more difficult”.

Merkel has refused to put a cap on the number of migrants allowed into Germany, but is facing growing domestic pressure and has focused on working with Turkey to help slow the flow of people coming to Europe.

She has also been urging other EU members to make good on their pledge of giving Turkey 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to improve conditions for the almost 3 million refugees living there.

“Political leaders are remembered not just for their projects, for but the humanitarian stances they take in difficult times,” he said. “The step Mrs Merkel took will go down in history. The people of Syria will never forget this humanitarian stance”.
 [qasioun.net]
23/1/16
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