Implementation of EU-Turkey migrant deal moves forward

Turkey received the second batch of migrants from Greece on Friday that was sent back as part of the recent readmission deal between Ankara and Brussels to cut back on irregular migration.

One ferry carrying 45 migrants left Greek island of Lesbos on early Friday, while other boats have reportedly picked up some 100 migrants from islands of Chios and Samos to bring them to Turkey's western province Izmir.

Turkish Coast Guard accompanied one ferry called "Lesvos" as it approached Turkish port. Migrants went through security checks and medical examinations before they were housed in temporary tents.

Riot police units were on standby near the port facility.

On Monday, 202 migrants, mostly Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, were transferred from Greek islands in the Aegean to Turkey's coastal town Dikili in Izmir.

However, the shipment of migrants back to Turkey was halted when migrants rushed to invoke asylum in big numbers to avoid deportation.

Turkish lawmaker Tacettin Bayir from Izmir where the migrants are being received is concerned that the migrant traffic may hurt the local economy that was already hit by decline in tourism industry.

He also recalled that two suspected suicide bombers were recently detained on a ferry off the shoreline of Izmir, saying that the government must explain what it has been doing in Izmir with the implementation of this readmission deal.

The readmission is part of deal that was agreed on March 18 by the European Union and Turkey to regulate migration and refugee flows.

According to the deal, for every migrant Turkey receives, the EU promised to repatriate one to its member states.

Brussels also pledged to provide six billion euros until 2018 to help ease burden Turkey shoulders for hosting some three million refugees as well as granting visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens as of June.

TURKEY TO SUSPEND DEAL IF EU FAILS

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to Europe, saying that Ankara would not implement the migrant deal if the European Union fails to deliver on its commitments.

"If the European Union does not take the necessary steps, then Turkey will not implement the agreement," Erdogan said in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The Turkish president said he has to approve any deal personally and as such may reject the deal in case of failure by the EU.

Speaking in Helsinki during his visit on Wednesday to Finland, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the deal is being implemented successfully.

"The mechanism is working and the number of illegal migrants is declining," he noted.

Last November, about 6,000 migrants on average were crossing to Greece on a daily basis, but this number came down to 350 after March 20, Davutoglu explained.

Asked weather Turkey will build new camps to accommodate returning migrants, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan said there are enough space available in the existing 26 camps.

He ruled out establishing new refugee camps, saying that the government does not expect the number of migrants to increase.

"For every migrant we take back, one from the camp will be repatriated to Europe. At least 78 refugees were already sent to Germany, the Netherlands and Finland," he said.

RESENTMENT SIMMERS LOCALLY

Turkish opposition is critical of the government on refugees, saying that wrong policies on Syria helped exacerbate the problem for Turkey.

Mehmet Gokdag, a member of the Parliament from the main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP), said the government turned Turkey into a giant migration camp by agreeing to the EU deal in exchange for cash.

He also said refugees have created unfair competition in local economy in his constituency Gaziantep near Syria.

"Refugees from Syria are engaged in all sort of business activities but without paying taxes and social security premiums," he underlined.

Gokdag added that local residents are uneasy because of surge in rental fees for residential and commercial properties.

Turkey has faced a daunting task of repatriating non-Syrian migrants to their home countries because Ankara has not finalized readmission agreements with origin countries such as Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

On Thursday, the Turkish parliament finally approved the long-delayed readmission agreement with Pakistan that was signed back in 2010. The deal would allow Turkey to send back migrants from Pakistan.

Source: XINHUA