Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans expressed discontent over the measures Turkey is applying to control the migrant influx from its territory to the EU. In turn, Ankara criticized Brussels, which despite approving a special €3 billion fund for refugees in Turkey, has not transferred the money yet.
Ozturk Turkdogan, President of the Human Rights Association of Turkey, commented to Radio Sputnik on the possible developments of the situation.
"First of all, it is unacceptable that some countries try to speculate on the migrant issue and want to use it in their own interests, Refugees are human beings, and they have rights," he said.
"The EU wants to resolve the crisis with money they want to give to Turkey. This is a mistaken strategy. The approaches both of Brussels and Ankara violate human rights," he added.
According to the analyst, the current situation was to a great extent provoked by the EU and Turkey’s destructive policy toward Syria and the entire region of the Middle East. Both Brussels and Ankara would have resolved the Syrian crisis peacefully if they had wanted to. They also would have prevented migrants from becoming such a serious problem for Europe.
"However, they chose another way. And now they are blaming each other. But this is innocent people who are suffering. They have to flee a bloody war that has been lasting for five years. I believe that both Ankara’s position and Brussels’ position are wrong," he underscored.
"We will have to pay heavily for this, and the price will be both financial and social and political. This would not add stability to the Turkish economy," according to the expert.
Instead of turning to the UN for financial aid Ankara asked the EU. As a result, now Turkey has to fund two refugee camps at the same time.
"It is also important that in its refugee camps Turkey gives preference to Sunni Arabs. This discriminatory approach is part of Ankara’s wrong policy toward Damascus which is aimed at creating a new Sunni-based state in Syria. The current migrant crisis stems from the wrongful policy in Syria," according to Turkdogan.
Turkey should abandon its adventurous plans and adhere to the UN Security Council’s resolutions on Syria, he added. Ankara should support peaceful talks in Syria and adopt a policy which would contribute to end the war as soon as possible.
"This is the only way to restore peace in Syria and find an effective way to resolve the migrant crisis," the expert concluded.
