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Erdogan warns Turkey will open its European border for migrants if EU continues its policy

On November 24, the majority of members of the European Parliament voted to suspend talks between Ankara and Brussels on Turkey’s EU membership
Migrants waiting in line for humanitarian aid on their way to European Union countries EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC
Migrants waiting in line for humanitarian aid on their way to European Union countries
© EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC

ANKARA, November 25. /TASS/. Turkey will open its borders with the European Union for migrants, if the EU pushes ahead with its current policy with regard to Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

"You did not keep your word. When 50,000 refugees were at the Kapikule [Turkey-Bulgaria] border, you cried out. "You started to say: 'What will we do if Turkey opens border gates? If you go too far, the border gates will be opened," the Anadolu news agency quotes him as saying.

On November 24, the majority of members of the European Parliament voted to suspend talks between Ankara and Brussels on Turkey’s EU membership. The resolution called on the European Commission and the EU member-countries to suspend further talks with Ankara citing disproportionate response by the Turkish authorities after a coup attempt in that country.

The resolution endorsed by the European Parliament is advisory. However, the mere fact that such a vote was held shows that there are serious problems in relations between the two sides.