German Chancellor Angela Merkel & top EU officials visit refugee camp in Turkey

German Chancellor Angela Merkel & top EU officials visit Nizip refugee camp in near Syrian border

As planned earlier Nizip refugee camp in Gaziantep near Syrian border received some important guests on Saturday.  German Chancellor Angela MERKEL and some top EU officials such as European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans were in the delegation together with PM DAVUTOGLU. Turkey hosts and approximate number of 2,7 million Syrian refugees who have fled the war in their country in camps within its territory and Nizip camp is among those as home to many such refugees.

After the visit a joint press conference was held on which occasion Donald Tusk and Angela Merkel extended their positive comments to PM Davutoğlu for Turkey’s efforts to host over 2.7 million refugees.

Merkel referred to Turkey’s efforts and issuing work permits for Syrian refugees as a “very brave step” and went on make following remarks; “Turkey is the country that accepted the highest number of refugees. EU needs to take responsibility as well.”

Moreover Merkel also commented that seeing what had been done and accomplished regarding the refugees was important for her adding 120,000 refugee children lived in Gaziantep and all were expected to go to school thanks to the support provided by EU.

On the other hand Prime Minister Davutoğlu who made a short speech said that the readmission deal would not be fulfilled without EU visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

He added Turkey had met all its responsibilities in the refugee deal, such as issuing refugee work permits and emphasized that Syrians were not to be sent back to their country against their will.

Turkish PM also made reference to an important point by mentioning the number of irregular crossings by refugees to Greece had dropped considerably, which he said showed that the Turkish-EU refugee deal was working.

BTT