Turkey urges EU to keep promise to tackle migrant crisisOctober 24, 2015 - 11:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The EU must fulfill pledges to offer Turkey three billion euros ($3.3 billion) a year and visa-free travel for Turks in return for cooperation to stem the flow of migrants, Ankara's ambassador in Brussels said Friday, October 23, the Daily Star reports. The European Union must also break the stalemate in negotiations for Turkey to join the 28-nation bloc and resume inviting Turkish leaders to EU summits in order to seal a cooperation deal, Ambassador Selim Yenel said. "It is only operational if the EU delivers on its pledges, the four pledges that they gave," Yenel said in an interview in his Brussels office. He appeared to suggest it could take months before this would happen. Just hours after the EU announced with great fanfare last week it had reached a refugee cooperation deal with Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials swiftly dampened expectations. Erdogan urged Brussels to take Ankara's 10-year bid for EU membership more seriously while his Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu heaped scorn on the EU's proposals of financial help. While EU leaders did not specify how much they would give Ankara, they did say the three billion euros demanded by Turkey would be a problem. But the EU has expressed growing concern about the flow of migrants through Turkey, now the main gateway for Syrians and others fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and central Asia. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |