Erdogan Furious After EU Suspends Plans To Extend Visa-Free Travel To Turkey
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/23/2016 15:24 -0400
inShare
Two weeks ago a high-ranking deputy for Turkey’s ruling AKP party, Burhan Kuzu (also a former adviser to President Erdogan) issued an explicit threat to Europe which was at that time discussing whether or not to grant Turkey visa-free travel within the continent. Specifically, he tweeted that "The European Parliament will discuss the report that will open Europe visa-free for Turkish citizens. If the wrong decision is taken, we will unleash the refugees!."
[url=http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2016/05/09/turkey migrant cartoon.jpg][/url]
What followed were ever louder accusations lobbed German Chancellor Angela Merkel by her own government that the woman dubbed by many as the most powerful person in Europe had engaged in a series of appeasing actions to placate the increasingly more despostic Turkish president, just to keep the millions of refugees currently held behind Turkey's borders in their place, and avoid a repeat of the social crisis that followed when tens of thousands of mid-east refugees would enter Germany every single day leading to a surge in the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-EU AfD party. Indeed, as we among others speculated, it appeared as if Turkey has unlimited leverage over both Merkel and Europe, and could demand virtually anything.
That may have changed today because as Deutsche Welle reports, an EU plan that would extend visa-free travel privileges to Turkey as of July 1 will be delayed over worries Ankara won't meet the key conditions on time. The German publication adds that "Chancellor Angela Merkel is in no mood to budge" in what is the first actual indication of resistance by the German to the increasingly more whimsical demands by the Turkish president.
As DW reminds us, Turkey has already agreed to take back refugees who have already used it as a transit country to enter Europe, in exchange for the visa-free deal, but the EU believes Ankara will not be able to implement reforms on freedom of the press and the judiciary by June 30.
Turkey's 75 million citizens would have the right to enter the Schengen zone for up to 90 days at a time with biometric passports from the end of June. However, this deal has now been delayed indefinitely, and will certainly force an increasingly more irrational, and now infuriated, Turkish president to retaliate or else it will be his turn to be perceived as weak.
The EU has a list of 72 requirements that Ankara needs to meet to obtain visa-free travel, with reform of anti-terror legislation another of the five remaining key steps, along with the protection of personal data. "The questions I had in this connection have not been fully cleared up," Merkel said.
Terrorists would be more likely to attack EU countries as a result of the deal to allow Turkish citizens to travel across the continent without visas, EU leaders said last week. "Foreign terrorists and organized criminals are 'expected' to seek Turkish passports to reach continental Europe 'as soon as' the visa waiver program comes into force," a European Commission report said.
That was not the only grievance voiced by Merkel. As we previewed last night when we reported that in his latest attempt to seize absolute power Turkey had stripped PMs of diplomatic immunity in a step that would certainly lead to the incarceration of Erdogan's political enemics, today Merkel met with Erdogan in Istanbul and said she had "made it very clear" that the move to strip about 25% of Turkish members of parliament (MPs) - many of whom are from the Kurdish minority - of their legal immunity as "a reason for deep concern."
World leaders and aid groups met at an unprecedented aid summit in Istanbul, headed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. At the event Erdogan stressed Turkey's contributions in hosting three million refugees from the Syria and Iraq conflicts.
"The current system falls short... the burden is shouldered only by certain countries, everyone should assume responsibility from now on," he said. "Needs increase every day but resources do not increase at the same pace. There are tendencies to avoid responsibility among the international community." He added that Turkey had spent $10 billion on hosting Syrian refugees, compared to $450 million from the rest of the international community.
The implication: send even more money over and above the $3 billion promised previously. And now that Erdogan's failure to pass visa-free travel will be critized domestically with questions over his ability to govern without his former PM Ahmet Davutoglu, who was instrumental in getting the visa-waiver deal, the question is whether the infuriated Turkish leader will resort to making good on his threat, and once again send out countless refugees along the Balkan route whose end destination is well-known: the wealthy countries of Central Europe.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-23/erdogan-furious-after-eu-suspends-plans-extend-visa-free-travel-turkey?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/23/2016 15:24 -0400
inShare
Two weeks ago a high-ranking deputy for Turkey’s ruling AKP party, Burhan Kuzu (also a former adviser to President Erdogan) issued an explicit threat to Europe which was at that time discussing whether or not to grant Turkey visa-free travel within the continent. Specifically, he tweeted that "The European Parliament will discuss the report that will open Europe visa-free for Turkish citizens. If the wrong decision is taken, we will unleash the refugees!."
[url=http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2016/05/09/turkey migrant cartoon.jpg][/url]
What followed were ever louder accusations lobbed German Chancellor Angela Merkel by her own government that the woman dubbed by many as the most powerful person in Europe had engaged in a series of appeasing actions to placate the increasingly more despostic Turkish president, just to keep the millions of refugees currently held behind Turkey's borders in their place, and avoid a repeat of the social crisis that followed when tens of thousands of mid-east refugees would enter Germany every single day leading to a surge in the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-EU AfD party. Indeed, as we among others speculated, it appeared as if Turkey has unlimited leverage over both Merkel and Europe, and could demand virtually anything.
That may have changed today because as Deutsche Welle reports, an EU plan that would extend visa-free travel privileges to Turkey as of July 1 will be delayed over worries Ankara won't meet the key conditions on time. The German publication adds that "Chancellor Angela Merkel is in no mood to budge" in what is the first actual indication of resistance by the German to the increasingly more whimsical demands by the Turkish president.
As DW reminds us, Turkey has already agreed to take back refugees who have already used it as a transit country to enter Europe, in exchange for the visa-free deal, but the EU believes Ankara will not be able to implement reforms on freedom of the press and the judiciary by June 30.
Turkey's 75 million citizens would have the right to enter the Schengen zone for up to 90 days at a time with biometric passports from the end of June. However, this deal has now been delayed indefinitely, and will certainly force an increasingly more irrational, and now infuriated, Turkish president to retaliate or else it will be his turn to be perceived as weak.
The EU has a list of 72 requirements that Ankara needs to meet to obtain visa-free travel, with reform of anti-terror legislation another of the five remaining key steps, along with the protection of personal data. "The questions I had in this connection have not been fully cleared up," Merkel said.
Terrorists would be more likely to attack EU countries as a result of the deal to allow Turkish citizens to travel across the continent without visas, EU leaders said last week. "Foreign terrorists and organized criminals are 'expected' to seek Turkish passports to reach continental Europe 'as soon as' the visa waiver program comes into force," a European Commission report said.
That was not the only grievance voiced by Merkel. As we previewed last night when we reported that in his latest attempt to seize absolute power Turkey had stripped PMs of diplomatic immunity in a step that would certainly lead to the incarceration of Erdogan's political enemics, today Merkel met with Erdogan in Istanbul and said she had "made it very clear" that the move to strip about 25% of Turkish members of parliament (MPs) - many of whom are from the Kurdish minority - of their legal immunity as "a reason for deep concern."
World leaders and aid groups met at an unprecedented aid summit in Istanbul, headed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. At the event Erdogan stressed Turkey's contributions in hosting three million refugees from the Syria and Iraq conflicts.
"The current system falls short... the burden is shouldered only by certain countries, everyone should assume responsibility from now on," he said. "Needs increase every day but resources do not increase at the same pace. There are tendencies to avoid responsibility among the international community." He added that Turkey had spent $10 billion on hosting Syrian refugees, compared to $450 million from the rest of the international community.
The implication: send even more money over and above the $3 billion promised previously. And now that Erdogan's failure to pass visa-free travel will be critized domestically with questions over his ability to govern without his former PM Ahmet Davutoglu, who was instrumental in getting the visa-waiver deal, the question is whether the infuriated Turkish leader will resort to making good on his threat, and once again send out countless refugees along the Balkan route whose end destination is well-known: the wealthy countries of Central Europe.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-23/erdogan-furious-after-eu-suspends-plans-extend-visa-free-travel-turkey?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29
Today at 1:54 pm by Rocky
» Integrity and the Financial Supervision Bureau agree to activate the cooperation agreement between t
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani faces 170 suspended laws.. Will they be approved or deported?
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary demands to cancel the security agreement with Washington
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» MP: Oil derivatives smuggling has decreased by 80% in Iraq
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» After years of controversy, the Minority Protection Act is submitted for the first reading
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sayhoud: The ministerial reshuffle is useless for several reasons
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Iraqi government makes changes to the General Secretariat: Al-Juhaishi succeeds Al-Halbousi
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Extension of the legislative term of the Iraqi parliament for an additional month to pass laws
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: The necessity of strengthening Iraq's position to be at the forefront of the region'
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Transportation: We are determined to pass the Civil Aviation Authority Law
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Council: Study of the reality of companies applying to implement projects
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Water Resources announces its control over the oil slick in the Tigris River
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Reconstruction: A new government vision for distributing serviced lands among those entitled to them
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Immigration Committee demands increasing the amount of the return grant
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Accreditation of specialized graduates to support quality control
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Heritage markets and buildings in Mosul after its reconstruction
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Specialized committee to ensure acceptance of cybersecurity outputs
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Interior issues mechanisms to regulate the work of private security companies
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Council: Study of the reality of companies applying to implement projects
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Welcome to the trends of establishing an administrative capital
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Securities trade more than 88 billion shares
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Imports and dependence on oil are obstacles to Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Launch of the International Chamber of Commerce in Iraq
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Private sector and housing projects
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Sovereign guarantees... a trend that promotes national industries
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Development of tax policies and laws
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Basra Council reviews the mechanisms of the smart transformation system that the Ministry of Electri
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Against the backdrop of the rise in the best subscriptions...Nineveh Council: Fuel quotas for genera
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Trade: Launching the International Chamber of Commerce branch in Iraq
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Parliament.. A new political path under the leadership of President Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» ommunications and Media Commission implements 54 projects to serve more than 162 thousand beneficiar
Today at 4:20 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework comments on the expected ministerial amendment: Information is exclusivel
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives draft memorandum of understanding to establish the Supreme Ministerial Council be
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Interior Minister discusses with Iranian counterpart in Tehran common files between the two countrie
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Integrity and the Financial Supervision Bureau agree to activate the cooperation agreement between t
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Victory Coalition: We call for adopting Imam Sistani’s directives as a document of principles for po
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» The expected Kurdistan government.. between accelerating events and complex scenarios - Urgent
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Details of Talabani's meeting with the US Ambassador: The next government is a citizen's government
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» "Before the axe falls on the head" .. Al-Sadr warns the Sudanese against adopting the issue of the "
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq announces success in investing 67% of associated gas and converting it into energy
Today at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Parliament overcomes Thursday's trap.. Sessions complain about their personal conditions and seek a
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» The Election Commission closes the door to appeals in the Kurdistan elections with 41 appeals
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq signs a contract with “Hisabi Project” to localize salaries of the region’s emplo
Today at 4:01 am by Rocky
» Baghdad faces a new test to maintain balance.. Threats of Iranian response to Israel from Iraqi terr
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Rafidain and Rashid deny the suspension of electronic payment devices: The service continues
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani agrees to launch an initiative to attract talent in the public and private sectors
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» MP: 11 draft laws ready to be presented to the House of Representatives
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani and Al-Mashhadani discuss cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities
Today at 3:53 am by Rocky
» Sudanese agrees to launch an initiative on artificial intelligence
Today at 3:51 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to rise.. Learn about the exchange rates in the Iraqi markets
Today at 3:49 am by Rocky
» Mechanisms for regulating the work of private security companies in Iraq
Today at 3:48 am by Rocky
» Transport decides to reject partnership between the General Company for Airports Management and the
Today at 3:45 am by Rocky
» What does the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan expect from Mahmoud al-Mashhadani? Al-Sumaria reveals
Today at 3:43 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/3/24 Launch of the International Chamber of Commerce in Iraq
Yesterday at 1:50 pm by Rocky
» utube 10/31/24 MM&C Central Bank Governor of Iraq-Monetary Stability Directly Stimulating the Econom
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» utube 10/31/24 MM&C MM&C News Reporting-Security & Stability-Sinjar Allocations-Unprecedented Develo
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» Rafidain and Rashid deny the suspension of electronic payment devices: The service continues
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq meets a third of housing needs, two directions identified to solve the crisis completely
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Activating the General Amnesty Law, a summary of the meeting between Al-Mashhadani and Al-Dhari
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary recommendations to change "five" ministers in Al-Sudani's government.. Get to know the
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» The controversy over the “controversial laws” continues.. and Al-Mashhadani confirms: They will not
Yesterday at 6:58 am by Rocky
» Sunday's currency auction.. 99% of the Central Bank of Iraq's sales went abroad
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Higher fines and powers.. the most prominent amendments to the expected Civil Defense Law
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Transport announces completion of initial design phase of development road with its land and rail ro
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Security: The Intelligence Law is ready.. 3 important paragraphs
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Central Bank dollar sales rise in today's auction
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Divided into three... Al-Fatlawi criticizes the Arab and Islamic position towards the aggression on
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Transport Committee reveals upcoming quadripartite meeting on development path
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Planning: The ministerial amendment is based on 4 directions
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» "Until the case is settled"... the judiciary suspends the decision to dismiss Al-Karwi from the pres
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Increasing for a year and a half.. Announcing the results of the investigation into Baghdad's pollut
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Banking Association: Reducing inflation helped stabilize commodity prices
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and Development Committee calls for commitment to the “Investment Law”
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance settles the controversy: This is the fate of the appointments file in the 2025
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq explains procedures for money transfers and combating money laundering
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Within three days, Iraq indicates an increase in the number of aircraft landing and crossing the air
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Public services reveal the reality of the capital.. This is what it needs
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Population growth and ongoing suffering.. A briefing on the "deteriorating" situation in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Proposes Attracting Real Estate Developers
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Direction to transfer beneficiaries of the protection network to the Social Security Law
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Speaker of Parliament
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» I learned {morning}
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to establish the concept of (Made in Iraq)
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani to {Al-Sabah}: Controversial laws will be presented unanimously
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Establishment of Al-Ghadeer Residential City in Muthanna
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Work: Transferring beneficiaries of the safety net to the Social Security Law
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» The most prominent achievements of the Sudanese government in the education sector
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Welcome to the trends of establishing an administrative capital
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Securities trade more than 88 billion shares
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Imports and dependence on oil are obstacles to Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Preparatory meetings for the 40th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Coop
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry: Our visit program to Basra will include following up on the progress of work a
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani and the Secretary-General of the Iraqi National Project stress the importance of activ
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry discusses action plan to complete steel plant in Basra and operate it on schedu
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sayhoud: Accelerating the implementation of the strategic development road project will advance t
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Amnesty International issues a “warning” to the Iraqi government over “violations” inside Al-Jadaa c
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky