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Philip Hammond to press Turkey over refugee crisis on Ankara visit Philip Hammond to press Turkey over refugee crisis on Ankara visit
(about 1 hour later)
The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, will urge the Turkish government to do more to stem the flow of migrants into the EU, but will also offer a message of solidarity in the wake of the Islamic State attack in Istanbul this week that killed 10 people including nine German tourists. The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, will urge the Turkish government to do more to stem the flow of migrants into the EU, but will also offer a message of solidarity following the Islamic State attack in Istanbul this week that killed 10 people including nine German tourists.
Hammond is visiting Turkey to meet both the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, in Ankara. He will later visit a refugee camp in southern Turkey.Hammond is visiting Turkey to meet both the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, in Ankara. He will later visit a refugee camp in southern Turkey.
The visit has been given an added importance in the wake of signs that Isis has decided to target Turkey in response to Ankara’s more aggressive efforts to help opposition fighters in northern Syria. The visit has been given an added importance following signs that Isis has decided to target Turkey in response to Ankara’s more aggressive efforts to help opposition fighters in northern Syria.
Hammond has applauded Turkey’s generosity in hosting more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees and will hold out hope that a donor conference in London on 4 February not only will raise more international funds but will try to reach agreement on access to besieged starving towns in Syria.Hammond has applauded Turkey’s generosity in hosting more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees and will hold out hope that a donor conference in London on 4 February not only will raise more international funds but will try to reach agreement on access to besieged starving towns in Syria.
“Turkey, a Nato ally, is a vital friend to the UK and critical partner in tackling Islamist extremism, as we have seen tragically in Istanbul this week,” Hammond said. “We will be discussing how we can work even more closely together in tackling the flow of foreign fighters and funding to Daesh.”“Turkey, a Nato ally, is a vital friend to the UK and critical partner in tackling Islamist extremism, as we have seen tragically in Istanbul this week,” Hammond said. “We will be discussing how we can work even more closely together in tackling the flow of foreign fighters and funding to Daesh.”
Ankara has been relatively neglected by Britain given Turkey’s now critical political and security importance to the US and EU. By contrast, the French and Germans have been regular visitors, and the US vice-president, Joe Biden, is due in Ankara later this month.Ankara has been relatively neglected by Britain given Turkey’s now critical political and security importance to the US and EU. By contrast, the French and Germans have been regular visitors, and the US vice-president, Joe Biden, is due in Ankara later this month.
Turkey is the main starting point for Syrian migrants trying to enter the European Union via Greece and has already been promised €3bn by the EU to act more decisively to stem the flow. Britain acknowledges Turkey has taken a more energetic role in disrupting supply lines to Isis, including the movement of foreign fighters into Syria as well as the illegal smuggling of Isis oil supplies on to the black market.Turkey is the main starting point for Syrian migrants trying to enter the European Union via Greece and has already been promised €3bn by the EU to act more decisively to stem the flow. Britain acknowledges Turkey has taken a more energetic role in disrupting supply lines to Isis, including the movement of foreign fighters into Syria as well as the illegal smuggling of Isis oil supplies on to the black market.
But the west needs to tread lightly in its criticisms since Turkey also has a pivotal diplomatic role through the leverage it has over Syrian opposition groups in peace talks talks due to start at the end of this month. But the west needs to tread lightly in its criticisms since Turkey also has a pivotal diplomatic role through the leverage it has over Syrian opposition groups in peace talks due to start at the end of this month.
There are huge doubts about the viability of those talks given the escalating disputes over the factions entitled to attend. Turkey can persuade Syrian opposition groups to approach the talks flexibly and strengthen the negotiating hand of the Syrian opposition by providing more support.There are huge doubts about the viability of those talks given the escalating disputes over the factions entitled to attend. Turkey can persuade Syrian opposition groups to approach the talks flexibly and strengthen the negotiating hand of the Syrian opposition by providing more support.
Senior US military officials have been in Turkey this week to discuss how to help opposition fighters, and Turkey has been exploring the basis for a long-term merger between the Free Syrian Army and elements of the Syrian government military if a ceasefire and peace talks ever start.Senior US military officials have been in Turkey this week to discuss how to help opposition fighters, and Turkey has been exploring the basis for a long-term merger between the Free Syrian Army and elements of the Syrian government military if a ceasefire and peace talks ever start.
Erdoğan argues that Turkey has already paid a heavy price for the implosion of its southern neighbour. It has seen the Kurdish-Isis conflict in Syria encroach into Turkish territory, with two Isis atrocities against leftwing secular Kurds – in Ankara on 10 October and at the border town of Suruc on 20 July. Erdoğan argues that Turkey has already paid a heavy price for the implosion of its southern neighbour. It has seen the Kurdish-Isis conflict in Syria encroach into Turkish territory, with two Isis atrocities against leftwing secular Kurds – in Ankara on 10 October and at the border town of Suruç on 20 July.
Turkey also insists it has tried to integrate hundreds of thousands of refugees mostly outside the 20 camps that it has set up in the south. It is expected there will be 1.9 million refugees inside Turkey this year, including 1.7 million Syrians. Half of the refugees are children, and most of these are not attending school. In an acknowledgement of the refugees’ permanence, Turkey says it will now give some refugees work permits, one means of encouraging them not to leave the camps for jobs in Europe.Turkey also insists it has tried to integrate hundreds of thousands of refugees mostly outside the 20 camps that it has set up in the south. It is expected there will be 1.9 million refugees inside Turkey this year, including 1.7 million Syrians. Half of the refugees are children, and most of these are not attending school. In an acknowledgement of the refugees’ permanence, Turkey says it will now give some refugees work permits, one means of encouraging them not to leave the camps for jobs in Europe.
But there is also growing hostility in Turkey, as in parts of Europe, towards the refugees, likely to be made worse by the Isis suicide bomb in Istanbul this week, which dealt a serious blow to the tourism industry.But there is also growing hostility in Turkey, as in parts of Europe, towards the refugees, likely to be made worse by the Isis suicide bomb in Istanbul this week, which dealt a serious blow to the tourism industry.
The attack may persuade Turkey’s government it has reached a point of no return and must do more to defeat Isis or else see Isis sympathisers become even more dangerous inside Turkey. Erdoğan has up to now seen Kurdish militants as the country’s principal enemy and has refused to help them even though they have proved to be the most effective fighters against Isis in northern Iraq and Syria.The attack may persuade Turkey’s government it has reached a point of no return and must do more to defeat Isis or else see Isis sympathisers become even more dangerous inside Turkey. Erdoğan has up to now seen Kurdish militants as the country’s principal enemy and has refused to help them even though they have proved to be the most effective fighters against Isis in northern Iraq and Syria.
Significantly, Erdoğan quickly named a Syrian refugee as responsible for the Istanbul attack, making little effort to blame the Kurds as he has for other attacks. The Turkish government said the Isis attack may have been a reprisal for Turkey doing more militarily to help rebel forces.Significantly, Erdoğan quickly named a Syrian refugee as responsible for the Istanbul attack, making little effort to blame the Kurds as he has for other attacks. The Turkish government said the Isis attack may have been a reprisal for Turkey doing more militarily to help rebel forces.
Downing Street believes Erdoğan has gone past a turning point and is genuinely co-operative in the fight against Isis. Turkey has already allowed US-led coalition planes to use bases at Incirlik to attack Isis in Syria. But the west thinks more could be done to seal the 560-mile border between Syria and Turkey. The Turks say they have spent $100m on better lighting, fencing and ditches. Downing Street believes Erdoğan has gone past a turning point and is genuinely cooperative in the fight against Isis. Turkey has already allowed US-led coalition planes to use bases at Incirlik to attack Isis in Syria. But the west thinks more could be done to seal the 560-mile border between Syria and Turkey. The Turks say they have spent $100m on better lighting, fencing and ditches.
The European commission vice-president, Frans Timmermans, has said the number of Syrians crossing the Aegean Sea to EU member Greece is still far too high despite the €3bn deal agreed in November.The European commission vice-president, Frans Timmermans, has said the number of Syrians crossing the Aegean Sea to EU member Greece is still far too high despite the €3bn deal agreed in November.
The Netherlands has said it is far from satisfied with the degree of Turkish co-operation and will make the reduction of migration numbers the top issue of its six-month EU presidency. The Netherlands has said it is far from satisfied with the degree of Turkish cooperation and will make the reduction of migration numbers the top issue of its six-month EU presidency.