Turkey, Greece say cooperation ‘crucial’ for region

BRUSSELS

Cooperation between Turkey and Greece over the refugee issue is vital to bringing stability to the eastern Mediterranean region, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutgolu said Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras, Davutoglu said working together was important not just for Europe but “for the peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.”

Both leaders were in Brussels for an EU heads of government meeting to discuss refugee resettlement.

“Our collaboration in order to decrease migration flows and non-refugee flows is crucial for our region, for Europe and for EU-Turkey relations,” Tsipras said.

Davutoglu added that the “long-term agenda for Turkey and Greece is friendship and the awareness of common destiny and looking to the future.”

The meeting comes after the EU and Turkey agreed a refugee action plan on Nov. 24, under which Turkey will stem the flow of refugees coming into Europe in exchange for visa liberalization and speeding up EU membership talks.

Turkey currently hosts 2.3 million Syrian refugees. More than 750,000 refugees have crossed into the EU from Turkey so far this year.

BRUSSELS

Cooperation between Turkey and Greece over the refugee issue is vital to bringing stability to the eastern Mediterranean region, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutgolu said Thursday.

Both leaders were in Brussels for an EU heads of government meeting to discuss refugee resettlement.

“Our collaboration in order to decrease migration flows and non-refugee flows is crucial for our region, for Europe and for EU-Turkey relations,” Tsipras said.

Davutoglu added that the “long-term agenda for Turkey and Greece is friendship and the awareness of common destiny and looking to the future.”

Turkey currently hosts 2.3 million Syrian refugees. More than 750,000 refugees have crossed into the EU from Turkey so far this year.