BAGIS CALLS FOR AID TO THE EU REGARDING THE SYRIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said: “In our talks with the EU Member States, we will try to draw attention to the Syria issue and the needs of the Syrian asylum seekers.”

Bagis received Fuat Oktay, the Director General of the Prime Ministry, Disaster & Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in the Ministry for EU Affairs. In his speech, Bagis stated that world had recently concentrated on the unacceptable coup in Egypt but the savagery in Syria still went on.

Bagis said that Turkey had spent more than 1.5 billion dollars for the Syrian asylum seekers and received 116 million dollars of this amount as external aid. He also said it is thought-provoking that only 6.9 million dollars of this amount came from the EU and the EU Member States.

Bagis stated that some addressees in Europe who talk about democracy, freedom, freedom of expression and human rights should also be more generous regarding the Syria issue. He also added: “Mr. Prime Minister Erdogan requested that we remind them to assume more responsibility. We accepted this important mission with pleasure. In coordination with the Prime Ministry, we will hopefully try to draw attention the Syria issue and the needs of Syrian asylum seekers in our talks with the EU Member States.”

Bagis pointed out that the day before, there were news about high numbers of deaths in Syria and he also said: “We will remind the EU that we should prevent this savagery in Syria through a diplomatic solution. Moreover, we will question the sincerity of the EU. We hope that they will not fail to show sincerity about Syria as they did before in Egypt. We hope that they will endeavour to help Syria and our sisters and brothers coming from there.”

Source: AA