ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given an ultimatum to the European Union (EU), warning the bloc should be ready for a new wave of refugees if it continues to offer safe haven to terrorists escaping from Ankara.
Tensions are running high between Turkey and the EU after some of the member states prepared to offer asylum to members of the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) and PKK terrorists fleeing Turkey.
President Erdogan said, “I guess those who offer a place for terrorists fleeing Turkey are also prepared for a couple of million refugees.”
Commenting on recent debates in Brussels about whether the union should review Turkey’s membership bid, Erdogan called on the EU to make a final decision on Turkey’s accession to the union.
Speaking ahead of an annual EU report assessing Turkey’s progress on EU membership and visa-free travel, Erdogan said: “They shamelessly say that Turkey’s EU negotiations should be reviewed. You are late. Review it as soon as possible. But do not just review, make your final decision,” he said.
Turkey applied to join the union in 1987 and negotiations began in 2005. As part of a deal agreed to last year to stem the tide of refugees to Europe, Turkey was promised relaxation of travel restrictions for its nationals and an acceleration of its membership application.
However, since the July 15 coup attempt, relations between Ankara and Brussels took a nosedive as Turkish politicians criticized the EU’s muted response to the attempted takeover, while EU leaders condemned Turkey over widespread arrests and job suspensions that followed.
Erdogan responded to some recent statements coming from some European politicians, comparing Turkey to Nazi Germany. The president labeled these as delusions saying Nazi ideology was based in Europe, and is again on the rise in Europe.
“Our ancestors saved the lives of those who were persecuted by Nazis,” Erdogan said.
The president noted that Europe does not care about the pain suffered by the victims of conflicts in the Middle East, but welcomes terrorists.
“Those who criticize us never see the fact that around 800 security officials and 300 civilians have been killed by PKK terrorists in Turkey,” Erdogan said and added that Europe never seems to mention politicians and civilians killed by the PKK.
