Istanbul, May 24, 2016 (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the European Union that the Turkish Parliament would block the legislative process under the agreement on migrant if Turkey did not obtain a visa waiver for end of June.
In the event that no result would be achieved on visas, “no decision, no law in the context of the implementation of the readmission agreement will come out of the Parliament of the Republic of Turkey,” Erdogan said during a press conference at the World humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.
“A step had to be crossed on June 30 concerning visas (…) Our Foreign Minister, our Minister for European Affairs will hold talks (with the Europeans). If a result is obtained, the better. In case no result is obtained, that we apologize, “he added.
The agreement on liberalization of visa regime for Turks wishing to travel to the Schengen area by the end of June, in the heart of the broader pact on migrants, teetering since Erdogan objected to an easing of Turkish anti-terrorist law, one of the 72 conditions imposed by Brussels.
On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed the need to meet all criteria before a visa exemption for Turks, saying that “the conditions are not yet fulfilled” by the deadline.
“I said clearly that the road to visa-free passing by 72 points,” stressed German Chancellor after a bilateral meeting with Mr. Erdogan. “We need the implementation of these points for granting visa exemption.”
one #Turkish dictator constantly Blackmail & threat 27 #EU countries U.S, Russia, no one can lift a fingar on him. pic.twitter.com/rsDXREa8Fo
— Wally Sarkeesian (@gagrulenet) May 25, 2016
“I told them very clearly yesterday (…) They do not leave us a new test every two days,” retorted Tuesday the head of the Turkish state.
Ankara has made this agreement a prerequisite for further implementation of the controversial pact on migrants who helped drastically reduce the flow of illegal crossings to Greece.
Stéphane © armenews.com