Erdogan threatens EU with "opening the flood gates"

[Baltenstein]

The latest news from our esteemed partner at the Bosporus:

In internal EU memo obtained by Greek media reveals the blatant Turkish blackmail on the refugee crisis. The memo contains a summary of the dialogue between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with European Commissioner Jean Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk on 16th November 2015 during the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. The three Presidents were discussing the Action Plan to tackle the Refugees and Migrants Crisis.

According to the memo, the bargain was hard and Turkey demanded 30 billion euro from the European Union in order to refrain from sending refugees and migrants to Europe through Greece.

EU’s offer was 3 billion euro in two years, but Erdogan demanded 3 billion euro per year.

In addition, Ankara threatened, that if the EU does not link the refugee issue to Turkey’s EU accession then it would:

1. Send buses full of refugees to Europe via Greece and Bulgaria and will let 10,000-15,000 refugees drown on its shores.

2. Turkey does not accept the 3 billion euro for two years he had agreed with and wants 3 billion a year at least, otherwise there will be no agreement.

3. Requests opening all accession funds soon and non instructions from the European Commission.

4. The European Commission deliberately delayed the publication of Turkey’s progress report, at the same Erdogan’s request to help him win the election.

Overwhelmed with arrogance Erdogan complains that the EU treated Turkey like a fool for 53 years and did not allow it to become full EU member, he compares a country like Luxembourg with the size of small Turkish town.

He also claimed that “Greece received 400 billion euro from Europe” during the economic crisis and that in fact Turkey should get a huge amount of money too. The two EU Officials told him, not to compare the Greek economic crisis with the refugee crisis. He claimed that the 3 billion euro will go for the refugees and not for Turkey.

The three-party meeting ended without an agreement.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-0 ... e-billions

So, from this leaked document we learn that the EU deliberately suppressed reports on Turkey's track record to help this insane joker get re-elected, that he doesn't care about the agreed arrangements on financial aid for Turkey and that he will send countless immigrants and refugees to Greece on purpose, if his demands aren't met, knowing full well that this will lead to thousands of deaths at sea.

This is the guy we have to cooperate with, gentlemen.

[MERIZoC]

Good. And then maybe the EU can put the 3 billion to something worthwhile, like search and rescue for the refugees.

[The Serbian Empire]

Good. And then maybe the EU can put the 3 billion to something worthwhile, like search and rescue for the refugees.

Then Erdogan will flood it with more refugees. He's not exactly wanting refugees in his country.

[Shamhnan Insir]

Suppose we could also just let him play with Russia on his own?

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Suppose we could also just let him play with Russia on his own?

Better if both countries governments go play in traffic if they want to act like children.

[Gig em Aggies]

If the EU did give erdogan the money he would most likely put every cent into his own pockets then towards legitimate uses for either his people or the refugees. That's more of a reason to not let turkey in until theirs a leadership change in a the Turkish government.

[The Qeiiam Star Cluster]

Can someone just coup Erdo already?

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Can someone just coup Erdo already?

You know the military in Turkey used to actually coup people, and let democratic governments take over again.

Not sure about todays military though.

[New Chalcedon]

The latest news from our esteemed partner at the Bosporus:

In internal EU memo obtained by Greek media reveals the blatant Turkish blackmail on the refugee crisis. The memo contains a summary of the dialogue between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with European Commissioner Jean Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk on 16th November 2015 during the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. The three Presidents were discussing the Action Plan to tackle the Refugees and Migrants Crisis.

According to the memo, the bargain was hard and Turkey demanded 30 billion euro from the European Union in order to refrain from sending refugees and migrants to Europe through Greece.

EU’s offer was 3 billion euro in two years, but Erdogan demanded 3 billion euro per year.

In addition, Ankara threatened, that if the EU does not link the refugee issue to Turkey’s EU accession then it would:

1. Send buses full of refugees to Europe via Greece and Bulgaria and will let 10,000-15,000 refugees drown on its shores.

2. Turkey does not accept the 3 billion euro for two years he had agreed with and wants 3 billion a year at least, otherwise there will be no agreement.

3. Requests opening all accession funds soon and non instructions from the European Commission.

4. The European Commission deliberately delayed the publication of Turkey’s progress report, at the same Erdogan’s request to help him win the election.

Overwhelmed with arrogance Erdogan complains that the EU treated Turkey like a fool for 53 years and did not allow it to become full EU member, he compares a country like Luxembourg with the size of small Turkish town.

He also claimed that “Greece received 400 billion euro from Europe” during the economic crisis and that in fact Turkey should get a huge amount of money too. The two EU Officials told him, not to compare the Greek economic crisis with the refugee crisis. He claimed that the 3 billion euro will go for the refugees and not for Turkey.

The three-party meeting ended without an agreement.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-0 ... e-billions

So, from this leaked document we learn that the EU deliberately suppressed reports on Turkey's track record to help this insane joker get re-elected, that he doesn't care about the agreed arrangements on financial aid for Turkey and that he will send countless immigrants and refugees to Greece on purpose, if his demands aren't met, knowing full well that this will lead to thousands of deaths at sea.

This is the guy we have to cooperate with, gentlemen.

IF this source is reliable (a big "if" - ZeroHedge isn't exactly...level-headed), then the straight reply to give would be to shut down the Turkish border with EU countries. A bit hard to send buses full of refugees then, no? Sadly, this would turn the refugees into political footballs...but then, they are that anyway.

[Valaran]

Can someone just coup Erdo already?

Erdogan's defanged them (Ergenekon trials) and then won over the rest. No such luck.

[Valaran]

IF this source is reliable (a big "if" - ZeroHedge isn't exactly...level-headed), then the straight reply to give would be to shut down the Turkish border with EU countries. A bit hard to send buses full of refugees then, no? Sadly, this would turn the refugees into political footballs...but then, they are that anyway.

The maritime border is the trickier issue here. Given this is Erdogan, he might well just propel refugee laden boats across the water, requiring a huge expense of already swamped EU efforts (and probably more refugee deaths) to turn them back.

[TURTLESHROOM II]

According to the memo, the bargain was hard and Turkey demanded 30 billion euro from the European Union in order to refrain from sending refugees and migrants to Europe through Greece.

Holy racketeering, Batman!

I don't think he's going far enough. Let Turkey in the EU or you'll get MORE terrorists and breeding-age migrants (who more often than not leave women and children behind) to screw your crap up!

Also, the current ruler of Turkey is a nightmare: he's exposed his dominionist side before and seems bent on gradually forcing the famously secular Turkish Republic into Shariah Hell.

If I was offering a counter offer, I'd say "if you flood the migrants into Europe, we'll get you expelled from NATO".

[Baltenstein]

According to the memo, the bargain was hard and Turkey demanded 30 billion euro from the European Union in order to refrain from sending refugees and migrants to Europe through Greece.

Holy racketeering, Batman!

I don't think he's going far enough. Let Turkey in the EU or you'll get MORE terrorists and breeding-age migrants (who more often than not leave women and children behind) to screw your crap up!

Also, the current ruler of Turkey is a nightmare: he's exposed his dominionist side before and seems bent on gradually forcing the famously secular Turkish Republic into Shariah Hell.

If I was offering a counter offer, I'd say "if you flood the migrants into Europe, we'll get you expelled from NATO".

The problem is, the EU has no say over NATO membership.

[Val Halla]

I'm determined to turn "Oh Erdogan" into a political meme.

Anyway it's gross and dehumanising to call a group of people a flood regardless of who they are.

[Mike the Progressive]

He's right about one thing. Europe has mistreated Turkey for some 50 years. Aside from that, what a prick.

[Celibrae]

Wanker.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

He's right about one thing. Europe has mistreated Turkey for some 50 years. Aside from that, what a prick.

So they are basically a strawman with a point (television trope) ?

[Valaran]

Personally, I don't think there's an easy solution. The pursuit of quick deals by the EU is hampering its own position and also flying straight in the face of all their strategic doctrines (good work there). As I understand it, conventional logic is that Turkey is too critical to let go (that may be disputed, but we're looking short on allies right now). However, equally, Erdogan is... Erdogan, and acting much more like a liability than an asset in almost every theatre.

But if we seriously present threats (say, NATO expulsion; non cooperation; freeze on EU accession; etc) to counter his, that is also a very risky policy, which could rebound in disaster - none of our goals achieved, while having alienated the only large ally we have there outside of Saudi Arabia, and one with the levers to the conflict in Syria, the refugee crisis the Kurds and combatting IS. I would only take that risk if Erdogan was near the end of his reign, but right now, AK is enjoying a fresh term of government, with no prospect of a new election or mass protests (which would create civil instability anyway), and the economy is only starting to go into reverse (which will damage if not destroy AK's prestige, but only eventually). Time is on our side the long run, but not right now, and because of the refugee crisis, we can't stall until it is on our side. Its hard position to negotiate from, unless Europe could utilise American pressure (not going to happen in an election year).

So, given all that, I'd reluctantly say make limited financial concessions (as Tusk and Juncker are doing) to make a play of placating Erdogan (getting his hopes up, but not quite satisfying them, so he has to keep making these deals) until the balance shifts in our favour.

[New Benian Republic]

Tell Russia Europe won't intervene if they attack Russia is Erdogan keeps this up.

[New Chalcedon]

He's right about one thing. Europe has mistreated Turkey for some 50 years. Aside from that, what a prick.

Um, how did Europe mistreat Turkey after it revoked the Treaty of Sevres, instead signing the (much more lenient) Treaty of Lausanne three years later? Compared to the rest of the Central Powers, Turkey ended up getting off lightly.

[Valaran]

He's right about one thing. Europe has mistreated Turkey for some 50 years. Aside from that, what a prick.

Um, how did Europe mistreat Turkey after it revoked the Treaty of Sevres, instead signing the (much more lenient) Treaty of Lausanne three years later? Compared to the rest of the Central Powers, Turkey ended up getting off lightly.

In fairness, the events that you are talking about are over 50 years ago.

[Kazirstan]

1. Send buses full of refugees to Europe via Greece and Bulgaria and will let 10,000-15,000 refugees drown on its shores.

Umm... This can't be real right?

[Mike the Progressive]

He's right about one thing. Europe has mistreated Turkey for some 50 years. Aside from that, what a prick.

Um, how did Europe mistreat Turkey after it revoked the Treaty of Sevres, instead signing the (much more lenient) Treaty of Lausanne three years later? Compared to the rest of the Central Powers, Turkey ended up getting off lightly.

Central powers? I said the last 50 years. Not the last 100.

[The S C P Foundation]

Hold on, though...why is this not being covered by any other news source? I'm calling BS on this, personally, until it shows up elsewhere.

[Baltenstein]

1. Send buses full of refugees to Europe via Greece and Bulgaria and will let 10,000-15,000 refugees drown on its shores.

Umm... This can't be real right?

Dude, it's Erdogan.