Turkey and the EU have agreed that all illegal migrants who have come to the EU from Turkey will return to Turkey. For each returned refugee, the European Union will take one legal refugee from Turkey to Europe. The Turkish authorities will receive money for this; and the visa free regime will be launched by July. Moreover, the new chapter in the talks on Turkey’s membership in the EU will be written. However, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the agreement between Turkey and the EU seems to be a decision on ‘a general exile.’ Statements on an intention to return all refugees and migrants contradict the words on a thorough approach to consideration of each case. “If such guarantees are serious, consideration of each case must take into account an opportunity that this or that migrant will not be exiled. Otherwise, it may be considered as a general exile,” FAN cites Al Hussein.
Commenting on the agreements, the Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that EU and Turkish efforts are primarily aimed at reducing the migration burden, which has increased in the past few years due to the inflow of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa. We can understand the concern of the involved countries over the forced migration. However, as we have said repeatedly, the current migration problem did not develop today or a month ago. It is the result of lengthy or lingering turbulence in the region engendered by many years of Western and Middle Eastern policies aimed at removing or replacing undesirable governments, to forcibly change the affected countries’ political systems and fundamental principles.
The Russian Foreign Ministry is convinced that a solution to the migration problem lies not just in dealing with the symptoms. This problem can be reliably straightened out only through collective international efforts to facilitate a comprehensive peaceful settlement in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Regarding the Syrian conflict, we believe that all members of the international community must comply with the relevant key agreements, such as UN Security Council Resolution 2254, statements made by the International Syria Support Group in 2015 and 2016 and, of course, the basic document on this issue – the 2012 Geneva Communique. They must also promote strict compliance with the ceasefire agreements in Syria and avoid taking any steps that would exceed the framework of the settlement parameters approved by the UN Security Council,” Zakharova said.
