ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the European Union that if it continues threatening his country he will open the border gates and allow hundreds of thousands of migrants to flood into EU countries.

Erdogan, in a speech Friday, reacted furiously to a non-binding resolution approved the previous day by the European Parliament demanding that the bloc freeze membership negotiations with Turkey over the government’s heavy-handed crackdown following a failed coup in July.

“We are the ones who feed 3-3.5 million refugees in this country. You have betrayed your promises,” Erdogan told the EU. “If you go any further those border gates will be opened.”

The EU struck a deal earlier this year to return migrants to Turkey in return for a package including aid for the refugees and accelerated membership talks. </s> Erdogan threatens to open Turkey's border with Europe to migrants

Erdogan threatens to open Turkey's border with Europe to migrants

Turkey's president has threatened to throw open his country's borders to allow migrants to reach the EU after MEPs backed freezing membership talks.

The European Parliament vote for a temporary halt to negotiations came in response to concerns over Recep Tayyip Erdogan's heavy-handed crackdown following a failed coup in July.

Last year, after more than a million migrants made their way into Europe, mostly through Turkey, a landmark deal was reached between Ankara and Brussels in March.

July: A Look At The Events Proceeding Turkey's Failed Coup

Turkey would stem the flow of migrants travelling by sea in exchange for a number of incentives, including fast-tracked membership talks, aid for refugees in the country and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

But Turkey's "disproportionate" response to the uprising has led the Strasbourg assembly to press for negotiations to be suspended.

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It has led Mr Erdogan to accuse the bloc of dishonesty and not keeping its side of the bargain.

Speaking in the wake of the vote, the Turkish leader said: "If you go any further, these border gates will be opened. Neither me nor my people will be affected by these empty threats."

He also made specific reference to Turkey's main border crossing with EU member Bulgaria.

Image: Refugees at the Nizip refugee camp near Gaziantep in Turkey

Mr Erdogan also said money promised had yet to be delivered.

Since the thwarted coup, blamed on a network of followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Turkey has engaged in an unprecedented crackdown.

Tens of thousands of people have been jailed and 120,000 people suspected of links to the cleric have been dismissed or suspended.

Turkey has also shut down more than 170 media outlets, detained more than 140 journalists and sacked elected Kurdish mayors and replaced them with government-appointed trustees. </s> President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened on Friday to open Turkey's borders to allow refugees and migrants to reach the European Union in a move that would tear up a landmark deal that has reduced the flow.

Erdogan's comments, some of his toughest in recent times against the EU, prompted an immediate warning from Germany which helped broker the deal that such "threats" were unhelpful.

The threat came a day after the European Parliament angered Ankara by backing a freeze in EU accession talks, already hit by alarm over its crackdown following the July 15 failed coup.

"Listen to me. If you go any further, then the frontiers will be opened, bear that in mind," Erdogan told the EU during a speech in Istanbul.

He said Brussels had cried out for help in 2015 as tens of thousands of migrants massed at Turkey's border crossing with EU member state Bulgaria.

"You began to ask us 'What will we do if Turkey opens its borders'?" he asked.

'Promises unfulfilled'

On March 18, Ankara and Brussels forged a deal for Turkey to halt the flow of migrants to Europe - an accord that has largely been successful in reducing the number of people crossing the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece.

Hundreds of people have drowned in the Aegean en route from Turkey to Greece on unseaworthy boats.

They included three-year-old Syrian Aylan Kurdi, with the images of his lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach spurring the international community into action.

Turkey agreed to step up maritime and land border controls in exchange for incentives on its long-stalled EU membership bid, including visa-free travel for its citizens and an acceleration of accession talks.

However with an October target passing, no apparent progress on the visa issue and the accession talks stalled, Ankara has accused Brussels of failing to keep its side of the bargain.

“This deal has always been inherently fragile and dependent not only on good political relations but each side holding up their end of the deal. As time goes on, we see it becoming more and more fragile, particularly since the coup over the summer,” Elizabeth Collett, director of the Migration Policy Institute, in Brussels, told Al Jazeera.

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“But one thing to remember … is that this was seen as a stop-gap measure while Europe got its house in order. Unfortunately, as the flows diminished … there’s been a reduction in political focus on this issue, which has also reduced the search for a sustainable solution in the European Union.”

In response to Erdogan's remarks, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, said the deal was in the interest "of all parties" and that "threats on either side are not helpful".

"Where there are difficulties, we need to resolve them," she added.

Erdogan said that while Turkey itself was looking after three million refugees - mainly 2.7 million Syrians who have fled the war next door - but "you [the EU] did not fulfil your promises".

"You never acted honourably, you did not act right," he told the bloc.

He has also accused Brussels of failing to fulfil a promise to deliver some $6.3bn in aid for refugees. The EU says the money is to be transferred gradually for individual projects and not in a single payment.

'Not a reality'

The vote by the EU Parliament reflected spiralling tensions between Ankara and the bloc after Brussels repeatedly expressed alarm over the magnitude of Turkey's crackdown after the coup.

Almost 37,000 suspects have been arrested, and tens of thousands of others have lost their jobs since the attempted putsch.

Turkey has in turn accused Brussels of failing to show solidarity.

The parliamentary vote is non-binding and earlier this month, all EU foreign ministers - with the exception of Austria - said they were in favour of continuing the accession talks.

But analysts say the entire membership process is in deep trouble, with little hope of progress and several risk factors that could lead to its collapse.

"Realistically, moving forward is also nearly impossible ... Both Brussels and Ankara remain stuck and are playing for time," Asli Aydintasbas, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in a research paper published this week.

She suggested an alternative form of engagement between Turkey and the EU, other than full membership, could be agreed to save face and move forwards.

"In reality, most officials privately concede that full membership is not a possibility at this point," she said. </s> ISTANBUL — Turkey's president on Friday accused the European Union of dishonesty and betrayal, and threatened to remove controls from his country's borders, flooding Europe with hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers and other migrants.

In his first speech since Thursday's approval in the European Parliament of a non-binding resolution calling on the EU to freeze Turkey's membership talks, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the EU: "We are the ones who feed 3-3.5 million refugees in this country. You have betrayed your promises."

He added: "If you go any further those border gates will be opened." He made specific reference to Turkey's main border crossing with EU member Bulgaria.

The European Parliament vote was in response to the government's heavy-handed crackdown following a failed coup in July. Opposition parties, rights groups and Turkey's western allies have expressed increasing disapproval of actions that Ankara defends as part of an ongoing war on terror.

After more than a million migrants made their way into Europe, mostly through Turkey, last year, Turkey and the EU in March reached an agreement: Turkey would stem the flow of migrants by sea to Greece in return for certain incentives including fast-tracked membership talks, billions of euros in aid for Syrian refugees in Turkey and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

But the response to the coup has made European nations less keen to negotiate with Turkey, while visa liberalization has hit a hurdle over Turkey's reluctance to change its antiterror laws.

During Friday's speech, Erdogan said the money promised also had yet to be delivered. "We have been given 550 million dollars by the United Nations. The European Union promised, but the money it has sent so far is around 700 million. But what have we spent? Up to now we have spent 15 billion dollars."

Since the thwarted coup blamed on a network of followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Turkey has engaged in an unprecedented crackdown, jailing tens of thousands and dismissing or suspending 120,000 people suspected of links to the cleric, It has also shut down more than 170 media outlets, detained more than 140 journalists and sacked elected Kurdish mayors and replaced them with government-appointed trustees. </s> Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Dutch as "Nazi remnants and fascists", as a row grows over a cancelled Rotterdam rally.

He was originally scheduled to speak at Saturday's rally in support of a Yes vote in a referendum which would give Mr Erdogan greatly increased powers.

The rally was banned for security reasons, Rotterdam's mayor said.

Turkey has now summoned the Dutch charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry in Ankara for an explanation.

"Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let's see how your flights will land in Turkey," President Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul.

Mr Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit were blocked.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a statement (in Dutch) that the Turkish threat of sanctions made "the search for a reasonable solution impossible".

Therefore the Netherlands was withdrawing landing rights, he said.

The diplomatic row comes just days before Dutch voters go to the polls.

The election campaign has been dominated by issues of identity, the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says.

The anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party Geert Wilders - who campaigned against the Turkish minister's visit - is expected to make significant gains, our correspondent adds.

Austria, Germany and Switzerland have banned similar gatherings where Turkish officials were due to speak.

Earlier this week, the cancellations in Germany led Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to accuse Berlin of "Nazi practices".

That comment drew a sharp response from German leaders, with Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the comparison as "unacceptable".

Mr Erdogan is seeking to extend his powers in the 16 April vote.

He is targeting millions of expatriate voters eligible to cast a ballot in the referendum - including 1.4 million in Germany.
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Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said earlier this week that the owner of the hall scheduled to hold Mr Cavusoglu's event in the city on Saturday had withdrawn authorisation, but the foreign minister could still visit.

"He has diplomatic immunity and everything so we will treat him with respect, but we have other instruments to prohibit things happening in public spaces," Mr Aboutaleb said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

There was also uncertainty about whether an event he was due to attend in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sunday would go ahead after one venue refused to hold it.

Another event in Zurich scheduled for Friday and featuring a senior official was cancelled, as were rallies in the Austrian towns of Hoerbranz, Linz and Herzogenburg.

The Dutch and Austrian governments have also criticised the Turkish government's drive to take its referendum campaign to Turks based in EU countries.

Relations between Turkey and European countries have deteriorated since last July's attempted coup in Turkey. Germany has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts.

Many European nations have expressed deep disquiet about Turkey's response to the coup attempt and its perceived slide towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan.

Turkey is a key partner in an arrangement attempting to limit the movement of migrants into the EU, but has threatened to "open the gates" if the EU reneges on commitments to provide aid, visa-free travel for its nationals and accelerated membership talks. </s> A day after EU lawmakers urged suspending talks on membership for Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed his country has been “betrayed.”

BRUSSELS — Turkey threatened Friday to open the migrant floodgates if the European Union halts its membership talks, as criticism grows of Ankara’s heavy-handed response to a failed military coup.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s warning — the latest in a series of heated speeches about Europe from top Turkish officials — came a day after EU lawmakers called for a freeze on the talks over the post-coup arrests, dismissals and jailing of tens of thousands of people.

Erdogan’s claims that his country has been “betrayed” are a sign of how Turkey’s pride has been wounded by the lack of international solidarity Ankara feels has been shown since its political foundations were rocked by the July coup attempt.

“We are the ones who feed 3-3.5 million refugees in this country. You have betrayed your promises,” Erdogan said. “If you go any further, those border gates will be opened,” he added.

The European Parliament vote Thursday was a response to Ankara’s widespread crackdown on potential political enemies.

Tens of thousands have been detained, and around 120,000 people dismissed or suspended from their jobs over suspected links to the Muslim cleric living in the United States whom Erdogan blames for the coup attempt.

Authorities have also shut down more than 170 media outlets, detained more than 140 journalists and sacked elected Kurdish mayors, replacing them with government-appointed trustees.

NATO has acknowledged that some Turkish personnel at the military alliance have even applied for asylum.

More worrying for the anti-death penalty EU would be if Turkey makes good on a threat to reintroduce capital punishment, which would derail the country’s bid to join the bloc entirely.

But apart from symbolizing Europe’s concern, Thursday’s vote has no practical effect on Turkey’s EU accession. Any suspension in talks can only be made by the 28 EU states, not lawmakers.

Beyond that, member states have little incentive to pour oil on the fire when they desperately need Ankara to manage their refugee crisis. The membership negotiations, which have crawled along at snail’s pace for more than a decade, are unlikely to be completed any time soon.

Unable to agree on the best way to manage more than a million migrants who entered Europe last year, mostly through Turkey, EU nations decided to outsource their refugee crisis.

They offered Turkey visa-free travel for its citizens and fast-track membership talks if Ankara stemmed the flow of migrants leaving for Greece and took back thousands who had already crossed into Europe.

The deal also calls for the EU to devote up to 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in aid for Syrian refugees living in Turkey.

During Friday’s speech, Erdogan said not enough money was coming through.

“We have been given $550 million by the United Nations. The European Union promised, but the money it has sent so far is around $700 million. But what have we spent? Up to now we have spent $15 billion,” he said.

In Brussels, EU officials confirmed Friday that 677 million euros have been delivered and a total of 1.2 billion euros signed into contracts with Turkey. A further billion euros has also been officially “allocated.”

More time sensitive is Turkey’s quest for visa-waiver status, which would allow Turks to stay for up to 90 days in Europe without a visa. Ankara wants the travel benefit this year, but EU officials said it has still not met seven outstanding criteria.

Most problematic among them is changing the definition of what constitutes a “terrorist act” in Turkey, a condition the Europeans say is required to stop Turkish authorities from rounding up reporters and Erdogan’s political opponents.

With bomb attacks a regular occurrence of late in Turkey, the government is reluctant to modify its anti-terror law.

A new progress report is due next month, but at the current speed Turkey is unlikely to meet the conditions this year.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka dismissed Erdogan’s comments on Friday as “blackmail” and said Ankara shares responsibility for ensuring its EU membership bid stays on track.

“I reject attempts by Turkey to politically blackmail us and any threat to incite another immigration wave,” Sobotka said. “The EU-Turkey deal is built on clear requirements both sides have to meet. Europe is doing its part, and therefore there is no reason for the current threats from Turkey.”

In Germany, whose government would prefer a “privileged partnership” with Turkey as an alternative to full EU membership, spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said the EU-Turkey migrant deal is a success and “continuing the agreement is in the interest of all those involved.”

“Threats from either side don’t help,” she said. “Where there are problems, we need to talk about them.”

Kiper reported from Istanbul, Turkey. Frank Jordans in Berlin and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed. </s> PARIS (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Erdogan, who was in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as part of efforts to improve his government's strained relationship with Europe, said Turkey won't wait forever.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Macron. "We have been seriously tired, my nation, too."

Adding that frustration might tempt Turkey to turn its back to Europe, Erdogan said, "One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included."

Ties between Turkey and Europe deteriorated last year after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish government ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

Macron acknowledged that Turkey's EU accession talks remained stalled. He said the relationship between Europe and Turkey needed to be rethought with the goal of creating a partnership that would ensure Turkey's "future will be built looking toward Europe and with Europe."

The two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkey also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey.

Protests over deteriorating press freedom and human rights greeted the Turkish president upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

"The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said in a statement.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with Erdogan. He said he gave Erdogan a list of journalists and non-governmental organization workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

"We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism."

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Erdogan, who was in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as part of efforts to improve his government's strained relationship with Europe, said Turkey won't wait forever.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Macron. "We have been seriously tired, my nation, too."

Adding that frustration might tempt Turkey to turn its back to Europe, Erdogan said, "One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included."

Ties between Turkey and Europe deteriorated last year after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish government ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

Macron acknowledged that Turkey's EU accession talks remained stalled. He said the relationship between Europe and Turkey needed to be rethought with the goal of creating a partnership that would ensure Turkey's "future will be built looking toward Europe and with Europe."

The two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkey also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey.

Protests over deteriorating press freedom and human rights greeted the Turkish president upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

"The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said in a statement.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with Erdogan. He said he gave Erdogan a list of journalists and non-governmental organization workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

"We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism."

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday. </s> European leaders and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are meeting in Varna, Bulgaria for the EU Summit Meeting, with the provocative Turkish actions and the refugee crisis on the agenda of talks.

 The summit, hosted by Bulgarian prime minister and chairman of the EU, Boyko Borissov, will bring together European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

 There is little hope of restoring close relations between the EU and Turkey, as tensions have been high, especially after the Turkish military operations in Afrin and the actions against Greece and Cyprus in the Aegean Sea.

 The Summit is not expected to produce any significant results but might be an important step in trying to normalise their relations. Turkey is demanding the full implementation of the terms agreed in relation to the refugee deal with the EU, meaning the immediate release of 3 billion euros.

 “I believe it is in the interest of the EU for the deal to continue to operate, and therefore for the money to go to the Syrian refugees. The agreement also benefits both the EU and Turkey and the refugees on its territory. I see no reason why Turkey, which was the country that requested in 2016 this agreement with the EU to cancel it now. As long as the EU applies the terms and conditions on its part, Turkey will do the same”, the architect of the EU-Turkey Refugee Agreement Gerald Knaus told protothema.gr.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan threatens to open Turkey's borders to allow refugees and migrants to reach Europe after the European Parliament votes to temporarily freeze talks of Turkey's accession to the EU.