Turkey accuses Greece of lying about migrant pushbacks

·

Turkey has accused Greece of lying about migrant pushbacks.  

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the accusations on  Thursday during a visit from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.  

“It is Greece condemning refugees to their deaths in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas,” Erdogan said during a televised news conference, adding he had proof. 

“It is ungrateful for [Greece] to say that Turkey is the source of the problem while our country is hosting 5 million refugees.”

“If we open our borders, I do not know what Greece will suffer, what Greece will do.”

He slammed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for “lying” and “not behaving honestly”. 

Mitsotakis claimed on Tuesday that Turkey is “instrumentalising migration”.

“Rather than putting the blame on Greece you should put the blame on those … pushing people in a desperate situation from a safe country, because I need to remind you that people who are in Turkey are not in danger,” Mitsotakis said.

“We have a tough but fair policy in migration.”

Mitsotakis has been under fire recently over the alleged pushbacks. 

The Prime Minister got into a heated exchange with Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel after she accused him of lying about the pushbacks.

The Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dunja Mijatović, called for the Hellenic Coastal Guard to end pushbacks in May. 

European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson called reports by German media into pushbacks in the Aegean Sea “shocking” last month. 

“These reports need to be investigated,” she said. 

Athens denies claims of migrant pushbacks. 

Source: Ekathimerini

greek film festival melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greek Australian surfer Mercury Psillakis killed in shark attack at Dee Why

A shark attack at Dee Why Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches has claimed the life of 57-year-old Greek Australian surfer Mercury Psillakis.

From Pappou to Dad: How Greek Australian fathers shape generations

The first unofficial Father’s Day acknowledged by the history books was on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia.

Western Macedonia to honour Zisis Dardalis and Professor Anastasios Tamis

Western Macedonia will pay tribute to two towering figures of the Greek diaspora: the late Zisis Dardalis and Professor Anastasios Tamis.

Hari Koutlakis among SA’s next generation of boundary-pushing artists

Adelaide’s creative spirit doesn’t fade when the Fringe ends – it thrives year-round in its studios, galleries, and creative hubs.

Polyaigos island declared archaeological site

The Central Archeological Council (KAS) has officially declared the entire Aegean island of Polyaigos an archaeological site

You May Also Like

New Consul General of Greece in Adelaide Alexandra Theodoropoulos begins duties

Marking the beginning of her duties, the new Consulate General of Greece in Adelaide, Alexandra Theodoropoulos, visited Bishop Silouan.

Australian researchers put ancient Greek ‘memory palace’ learning technique to the test

An ancient Aboriginal-Australian method for memorisation is more effective than the ancient Greek ‘Mind Palace’ method.

South Melbourne FC crowned Australian Champions in National Blind Football Series

South Melbourne FC's blind team have been crowned Australian Champions in the National Blind Football Series.