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EU funding to Turkey not to flow "unconditionally": Austrian FM

Xinhua, November 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz on Monday warned that European Union (EU) funding related to its refugee deal will not simply flow to Turkey unconditionally.

In an interview on radio station Oe1 from state broadcaster ORF, Kurz said the three billion euros (3.3 billion U.S. dollars) that is to be disbursed under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey aid deal will "very clearly" not simply flow should Turkey not hold to the conditions that were agreed upon.

Kurz argued the case for protecting the external borders in order not to "become dependent on Turkey." He said doing so could leave one "abandoned."

He reiterated his support for the Austrian model of border protection, where those wishing to enter illegally are "stopped, provided for, and taken to a safe third country or back to country of origin."

More assistance should also be provided in the regions where the refugees come from, Kurz said, stressing that these are the only means of tackling people trafficking.

"Everything else makes us dependent," he said. Endit