Erdogan accuses EU states of breaking extradition law

Ankara, (IINA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the European Union states on Thursday of violating international law by turning down Ankara’s requests to extradite terrorists, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking at a ceremony in Ankara, Erdogan said that some European countries have repeatedly ignored Turkish requests to extradite suspects wanted for terrorism offenses despite extradition treaties.
Erdogan also rejected allegations that Turkey would be a “refugee buffer zone” after its recent deal with the EU.
"They say 'Turkey will receive all the illegal migrants in the EU', or 'Turkey would become a refugee buffer zone'. They are just trying to tease Turkish people", Erdogan said.
The agreement allows for the return of “irregular migrants” to Turkey from Greece in exchange for Syrian refugees to be relocated within the EU. The resettlement program began earlier this week.
The deal also provides a 6 billion euro ($6.8 billion) aid package to help Turkey care for millions of refugees, visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the EU, and fast-tracked EU accession for Turkey.
Erdogan stressed that Turkey would only receive illegal migrants in the continent in a one-for-one exchange for refugees in Turkish camps.
"Of course, this does not mean that all 3 million refugees [in Turkey] will be sent to Europe. This exchange will last until the resettling of 72,000 refugees in Europe. After that number is reached, the issue will be discussed with the EU again", Erdogan said.
The deal is designed to break human-smuggling gangs who have been trafficking refugees across the Aegean Sea, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
AG/IINA

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