Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ripped Greek authorities who have ramped up security at its eastern border as refugees attempt to use the country as a bridge to Europe.
During a televised speech on Wednesday, Erdogan likened the Greek government to Nazis after the nation closed its border with Turkey and has used makeshift walls and teargas to push back thousands of migrants from Syria.
“There is no difference between what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border,” he said.
Erdogan, who opened Turkey’s borders to migrants at the end of February, has been at odds with European Union leaders in Brussels who want the Turkish border with Syria to remain closed. In 2016, Turkey received aid and political concessions after the EU passed crisis legislation aimed at slowing the movement of Middle Eastern migrants into Europe.
The agreement stipulated that for every Syrian migrant returned from Greece to Turkey, one Syrian migrant within Turkish borders would be relocated to an EU nation. Turkey, however, said it has not been paid the full $6.79 billion in aid as was promised in the deal.
“Until all Turkey’s expectations, including free movement … updating of the customs union and financial assistance, are tangibly met, we will continue the practice on our borders,” Erdogan said.
The leader noted that as the season changes and warm weather arrives, migrants will attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge. He added that he is hopeful for a new agreement with the EU on the border dilemma by May.
