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Dutch PM reaffirms willingness to help Turkey curb refugee flow

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Netherlands will work with Turkey to stop refugees from coming into Europe, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday after a meeting with visiting Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu.

The Turkish efforts have had "a major impact" seen in the decrease in the flow of refugees in recent days, said Rutte.

Turkey, already home to over two million Syrian refugees, indicated that it would continue to provide refuge. In return, the European Union (EU) has pledged 3.0 billion euros (about 3.4 billion dollars) to help to improve the condition of refugees, and to grant political concessions to Turkey, including an easing of visa restrictions and the fast-tracking of its EU membership process.

Since last week, Turkey has asked for Syrian refugees to be sheltered in Syria and only allowed to cross the border when it is medically necessary. Tens of thousands of displaced Syrians have since been staying in a camp set up by Turkey on the Syrian side of the border.

Davutoglu said Turkey would take in Syrians, but as a priority, Turkey was building a new camp to accommodate Syrians inside Syria's borders.

Rutte said he understood the policy. "We're going to spend the money together to improve the situation."

If NATO is deployed to monitor the influx of refugees at the Turkish coast, Rutte said the Netherlands would be willing to make a contribution to this initiative as well as to the European border control organization Frontex. Endit