Turkey has rejected accusations of " blackmail " made on Wednesday by several European leaders who accuse it of opening its borders to refugees seeking to reach Europe.
Read also: Migrants: why the EU was not ready to stem a new crisis
" We have never considered refugees as a means of political blackmail ," said Turkish Presidency spokesman Ibrahim Kalin at a press conference in Ankara. " Our goal in opening the doors was not to create an artificial crisis, to exert political pressure or to serve our interests, " he said. Ankara, he said, does not want to force anyone to stay in Turkey, which hosts nearly four million refugees, the majority of whom are Syrians. " Turkey's carrying capacity has a limit, " he added, urging Brussels to keep its promises, under the terms of the agreement the EU concluded with Ankara in 2016 to contain the flow of migrants. .
Europeans displayed their solidarity with Greece on Wednesday and their firmness in protecting borders to prevent the passage of thousands of migrants during an emergency meeting of the 27 in Brussels. The French government in particular has denounced the decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to allow migrants present in his country to pass through to Europe, in order to obtain European support in Syria. Europe will not " give in to the migratory blackmail " exercised by Turkey and its borders will remain " closed " to migrants sent by this country, said Wednesday the head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Read also: Turkey says migrant killed at Greek border
