Erdogan accuses Greek PM of 'lying'; says blaming Turkey for refugee crisis 'ingratitude'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, 11 November accused Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of “lying” about refugee crisis. According to Xinhua report, during a joint press conference with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Erdogan said, “It is truly ingratitude to say that refugee crisis is caused by Turkey.” Turkish President also ded that it is Greece that pushes refugees to ir deaths in Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.

Erdogan’s remarks came after Greek PM said on Tuesday that Ans intercepted boats coming from Turkey but refused claims that his government pushed back refugees. Mitsotakis said, “So rar than blaming Greece, you should put it on those who have been instrumentalising migration systematically.” war of words between both nations come in backdrop of thousands of refugees are garing on Belarusian side of border in an attempt to enter Poland and n Germany to seek asylum. 

On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reportedly discussed issue of migrants with his Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau, on phone. On Thursday, Erdogan, as per Hurriyet Daily News, said that “It is Greece that is condemning refugees to death by skewering ir boats” and ded, “We have all documents.” Turkish President even said that in its entirety, Greece h “turned into a US military base” referring to United States military deployments in norrn region of Greece.

Hungarian PM called for a defensive perimeter

ditionally, in same press conference, Orban underscored need for a defensive perimeter across Europe and noted that continent was under migration pressures from Mediterranean, Western Balkans and Belarus. Hungarian PM said that Europe was in need of allies and ded that if such a perimeter is not established, continent would be in a “difficult situation”. He reportedly said, “We should help our Turkish friends on migration. EU should support Turkey as much as possible.”

As per Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey is alrey housing four million refugees which is most number of migrants in world, amid signs that a new wave of Afghan refugees might he towards Turkey and EU. Erdogan also said that he discussed bilateral relations with Hungarian counterpart. 

(IMAGE: AP)