Erdogan: "We will open the doors and send 3.6 million migrants to you,'"

Erdogan's threat to Europe: President says he will send 3.6 MILLION refugees to the continent if Turkey's invasion of Syria is defined as an occupation, as he boasts '109 terrorists' have died

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today threatened Europe he will send 3.6 million refugees to the continent if the invasion of Syria is defined as an occupation.

'Hey EU, wake up. I say it again: if you try to frame our operation there as an invasion, our task is simple: we will open the doors and send 3.6 million migrants to you,' Erdogan said in a speech to parliament on Thursday.


He bragged that 109 'terrorists' had been killed, as the defence ministry announced two border villages had been 'cleared of terror,' referring to Kurdish fighters.


The invasion has been widely condemned around the world, with European leaders and President Donald Trump warning Erdogan he risked exacerbating suffering in the war-ravaged region and allowing ISIS to flourish after the US-backed Kurds ousted the jihadists earlier this year.


Kurdish authorities have claimed last night's shelling of a prison holding ISIS fighters of more than 60 nationalities was a 'clear attempt' to help them escape.


'These attacks on prisons holding Daesh (ISIS) terrorists will lead to a catastrophe the consequences of which the world may not be able to handle later on,' the statement said.


Turkey's commandos moved against Kurdish militia last night after the artillery and air force pounded northern Syria with a barrage of shelling, sending thousands fleeing.



Terrified residents were seen leaving on foot, by car and piling rickshaws high with their possessions as they left their homes - a grim echo of how they sought refuge from the Islamic State only a few years before.


Video footage released by Turkey's Defence Ministry shows 'hero' commandos moving through fields under cover of darkness and firing rounds after Operation Peace Spring was launched on Wednesday afternoon.

Trump - who ordered American troops out of the area - said Turkey's incursion was a 'bad idea' and said that Washington 'does not endorse this attack.' ...( )

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7557611/Turkey-releases-video-commandos-advancing-against-Kurdish-fighters-Syrian-border.html

 

EU Must Reject Turkey’s 'Blackmail' On Syrian Refugees, Urges Italy's Conte

Zero Hedge,

10 October, 2019

update: Though Erdogan has been used to getting his way utilizing his well-known bullying tactics, it appears Europe is not going to fold this time.

After yesterday European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker declared of Turkey's push to militarily carve out a 'safe zone' in northern Syria that “if the Turkish plan involves the creation of a so-called safe zone, don’t expect the European Union to pay for any of it,” some European leaders have pushed back against his reiterated threat to "open the doors" for 3.6 million refugees currently in Turkey to seek shelter in Europe if external powers don't support his operation. 

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said European Union must adopt a common position against Erdogan's threats. Conte told RAI television, as cited in Bloomberg:

“We cannot accept that there be blackmail involving the welcome given by Turkey” to refugees with European funding, and the offensive in Syria.

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, via EPA/BBC

No doubt Erdogan won't take kindly to the Italian leader charging him with an attempt the "blackmail" but Conte firmly voiced what many EU leaders are likely thinking. 

* * *

As fighting ramps up in northeastern Syria following Turkey's armed incursion into territory held by the Kurds, President Trump made clear during a press conference Wednesday night that, while Washington has threatened to punish Turkey for attacking the Kurds, President Trump doesn't feel any deeper loyalty to the one-time "tip of the spear" in the fight against ISIS.

But President Erdogan wants Europe to understand that if it pursues sanctions or other punitive measures against Turkey - or even if European leaders complain too loudly - he won't hesitate to release millions of Syrian refugees and allow them to start making their way to Europe, which is still struggling with the ramifications of the last wave of Syrian refugees.

According to BBG, Erdogan said he would "open the doors" for 3.6 million refugees currently in Turkey to seek shelter in Europe, should his country face criticism.

Erdogan’s threat comes as Turkish troops begin their advance into northeastern Syria (Erdogan has asked European leaders not to call this an 'invasion'). So far, he has faced intense criticism from European nations and nearby Arab states.

The Turkish lira, and Turkish assets like stocks and foreign-currency bonds, have slumped in the wake of the invasion, with the Turkish currency trading near its weakest level since August.

Ankara has said the operation, which was given the green light by the US over the weekend, is intended to force back Kurdish militants along the border area while targeting ISIS militants. But since ISIS has been stripped of all its territory in the region, many who oppose the Turkish incursion believe the claims of going after ISIS and preventing the creation of a "terror corridor" are merely a ruse.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

✔@RTErdogan

The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.

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2:16 AM - Oct 10, 2019

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Turkish F-16 warplanes and artillery units have struck at least 181 targets so far. At least 19 Kurdish militants have been killed since the Turkish assault began, while 38 have been wounded. Meanwhile, a group of American senators from both parties have promised to try and punish Ankara over the incursion.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191009-spain-declares-support-for-turkey-military-operation-in-syria/?fbclid=IwAR1R37tvvpUCHoOJJoBARA6JAGhssYxGitl9kbxTT2ekRcHGuH2Jvvr5ZyQ#.XZ8eihi6RQR.facebook