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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 10 March 2020
Turkey's leader presses EU for help amid migrant standoff

By LORNE COOK and from a wave of mass migra-
SUZAN FRASER tion five years ago. Tens of
Associated Press thousands of migrants were
BRUSSELS (AP) — Turkish already in Greece before
President Recep Tayyip Er- Turkey announced its bor-
dogan pressed the Euro- ders open, many of them
pean Union on Monday for in massively overcrowded
more help caring for Syrian camps on Greek islands
refugees after EU officials facing the Turkish coast.
accused him of "black- Part of the 2016 EU-Turkey
mail" for waving migrants deal stipulates new arrivals
through to Europe. must remain on the islands
Thousands of migrants have pending deportation unless
massed at Turkey's land they successfully apply for
border with EU-member asylum in Greece.
Greece since Erdogan's Germany's coalition gov-
government made good ernment said early Monday
on a longstanding threat the country was willing to
and announced it would "support Greece regarding
no longer prevent migrants the difficult humanitarian
from crossing. situation of about 1,000 to
EU countries have rallied 1,500 children on the Greek
behind Greece, which is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, arrives for a meeting with NATO Secretary General islands."
also a member of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg at the Turkish Representation in Brussels, Monday, March 9, 2020. The government said Ger-
and described it as a Associated Press many could host children
"shield" protecting Europe's the funds. Beyond migration, the EU alleged violence by Greek in dire need of medical
borders with the outside The Turkish leader later met was keen to discuss devel- authorities as they push mi- treatment or those who are
world. with top EU officials, Euro- opments in Syria with Erdo- grants back to Turkey. unattended minors young-
"It is beyond reason and un- pean Council President gan and "how we can con- Greece has deployed riot er than 14, especially girls.
derstanding that a neigh- Charles Michel and Euro- tribute to bringing more po- police and border guards It didn't say exactly how
boring and ally country can pean Commission Presi- litical support, more stability to repel people and the many children Germany
point to us as the cause of dent Ursula von der Leyen, in the entire region," Michel border area has since seen would take, but said an
the wave of irregular migra- to discuss the 2016 deal. said. violent confrontations. On agreement would be ne-
tion," Erdogan told report- The deal called for Turkey A high-level Turkish official, Saturday, youths threw gotiated by a European
ers after talks with NATO to halt the flow of Europe- speaking on condition of rocks at Greek police and "coalition of the willing" in
Secretary General Jens bound migrants and refu- anonymity in line with gov- tried to pull down a border coming days.
Stoltenberg. gees in exchange for up to ernment rules, said the sides fence. Greek Prime Minister Kyria-
Turkey hosts more than 3.5 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion) would discuss a possible re- Many migrants have al- kos Mitsotakis, meanwhile,
million Syrian refugees, and in aid for Syrian refugees vision of the agreement. It leged mistreatment at the welcomed Erdogan's visit,
Erdogan has demanded on its territory, fast-track EU wasn't clear if a deal would hands of Greek police, and saying he hoped it would
that Europe shoulder more membership and visa-free emerge Monday. Turkey says two migrants mark "the start of the de-
of the burden of caring for travel to Europe for Turkish Von der Leyen said the were killed in violence escalation of the crisis."
them. citizens. meeting would be the "re- along the border. Greece Speaking in Berlin, where
He has accused the EU of Michel told reporters that start of a dialogue." has denied the accusa- he met with German Chan-
not meeting its obligations, Turkey and the EU "have She repeated the EU has tions. cellor Angela Merkel, Mit-
including failing to pay different opinions on differ- the obligation to protect its EU foreign ministers have sotakis said "there must be
money promised to Turkey ent things and that's why it's borders, but also to guar- criticized Turkey, saying it a concrete change in An-
under a 2016 deal to stem important to have a frank antee the fundamental in- is using migrants' despera- kara's policy" if Turkey is to
the flow of migrants to Eu- and open dialogue." dividual right for asylum. tion for political purposes. become an ally of the EU
rope. "For us, it's important to im- Erdogan was also expect- EU countries are still deal- in the migration issue once
The EU says it is disbursing plement the deal," he said. ed to raise concerns over ing with the political fallout more. q

Madrid to close all schools for 2 weeks

after virus spike

MADRID (AP) — Spain's — total cases up more than employees to work from
health minister on Monday 200 since lunchtime. Those home, as well as asking
announced a sharp spike cases, he said, "imply a citizens to reduce travel if
in coronavirus cases in and change for the worse of possible. Illa also said that
around the Spanish capital, the disease in Spain". further measures would be
Madrid, and said all schools National broadcaster TVE announced on Tuesday.
in the region, including kin- said the measure in Madrid Madrid has registered more
dergartens and universi- would affect some 1.2 mil- than half of the cases of
ties, will close for two weeks lion students. In addition to the new virus in the coun-
from Wednesday. closing schools, the minister try, with much of the con- Young students play in a public school, in Vitoria, northern
Giving the second update announced a series of rec- tagion linked to nursing Spain, Monday, March 9, 2020.
of the day, Salvador Illa an- ommendations, including homes and health workers. Associated Press
nounced 1,204 confirmed for companies to establish Earlier on Monday, au- nounced the closure of ed- toria, where the second-
cases, with 28 deaths and reduced working hours or thorities in northern Spain's ucational centers around worst cluster has been
74 people in intensive care considering asking their Basque Country also an- the regional capital, Vi- identified.q