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Ankara Warns of EU Migrant Deal Ahead of German Chancellor's Visit

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkey is accusing the European Union of reneging on its
   commitments to a migrant deal. The accusation comes ahead of German
   Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit Friday to Istanbul.

   The future of the EU deal, which curtailed an exodus of migrants into
   Europe, is expected to be an essential part of talks between Merkel and
   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

   In an interview with the GermanBildnewspaper, published Wednesday,
   Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sent a clear message to
   Merkel. "Now it is 2020, and we still have not received the
   first3billion euros[$3.3 billion]in its entirety," Cavusoglu said.

   Under the 2016 EU migrant deal, Ankara was to receive $6.6 billion in
   two payments to help accommodate and support the 4 million Syrians who
   had fled the civil war to Turkey.

   Ankara feels cheated by Brussels, pointing out that it honored its side
   of the bargain, drastically reducing the numbers of migrants entering
   Europe from Turkey.

   Erdogan is expected to press Merkel on the issue Friday when they talk.
   Berlin is seen as one of the chief benefices of the EU deal. In 2015,
   Germany received about 1 million refugees, many of whom traveled
   through Turkey.

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