![]() ![]() Greek authorities said they stopped about 10,000 crossing attempts Saturday, and another 5,500 on Sunday. ![]() Migrants threw rocks and other objects, and one policeman was injured. But in the afternoon, authorities used tear gas and water cannons to push back another crowd attempting to cross. Officials said the situation was much calmer Sunday morning. On the Greek-Turkish land border, Greek army and police patrols using tear gas and stun grenades to thwart attempts by thousands to push into the country overnight. Turkey borders Greece and Bulgaria, both European Union members. Turkey already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, as well as many others from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Turkey has since accused the EU of failing to honor the agreement, and Erdogan has frequently threatened to allow refugees into Europe unless more international support was provided. Under a 6 billion euro deal in 2016, Turkey agreed to stem the tide of refugees to Europe in return for financial aid, after more than a million people entered Europe in 2015. His announcement marked a dramatic departure from a previous policy of containment, an apparent attempt to pressure Europe into offering Turkey more support in dealing with the fallout from the Syrian war to its south. “We can’t be expected to do this on our own.”Įrdogan's decision open his country’s borders with Europe made good on a longstanding threat to let refugees into the continent. “Europe and others must take robust action to address this monumental challenge,” said Fahrettin Altun, the communications director for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said Ankara had changed its focus to preparing for the possibility of new arrivals from Syria “instead of preventing refugees who intend to migrate to Europe.” Idlib is the last opposition-held stronghold in Syria, and is dominated by al-Qaida linked fighters.Ī Turkish official said the fighting in Idlib was directly linked to Turkey's decision to open the gates for refugees to Europe. Turkey backs the Syrian rebels fighting in Idlib province, and has sent thousands of troops into the area. That offensive has killed dozens of Turkish troops and led to a surge of nearly a million Syrian civilians fleeing the fighting toward Turkey's sealed border. Turkey's decision to ease border restrictions came amid a Russia-backed Syrian government offensive into Syria's northwestern Idlib province. In Syria, Turkish troops shot down two Syrian warplanes after the Syrian military downed a Turkish drone, a major escalation in the direct conflict between Syrian and Turkish forces. KASTANIES, Greece - Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier Sunday, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey said its borders were open to those hoping to head to Europe.
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