Erdogan blasts EU over migrant deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing the European Union of not upholding its side of an EU-Turkey agreement on migration, saying that promised funds and visa-free travel for Turks to the EU haven't been delivered.
The agreement earlier this year was instrumental in stemming the flow of people heading from Turkey to nearby Greece, from where they hope to head northward into the European heartland.
Erdogan said Turkey was sheltering 3 million Syrians and Iraqis, yet 3 billion euros ($3.35 billion) promised by the EU had not arrived, and the visa issue had not been settled.
Erdogan said the steps on both sides must be "taken simultaneously." He said: "You cannot demand the refugee return agreement without fulfilling your obligations. Sorry but we are not a country that you can boss about." [AP]
