Turkish officials have confirmed on Tuesday that 49 migrants have arrived following a migration deal between Ankara and the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, two ferries have left Greece for Turkey on the same day with 18 migrants on board.
A government spokesperson for Greece claims that Athens has been rendering its services in processing returnees under the migration deal. The accord has taken place aiming to stem a huge refugee influx into Europe. So far, more than 340 people have been returned to Turkey since April 4 following signing the agreement in March, reports Reuters.
Quoting Turkish news agencies and an official at Dikili, The Seattle Times reports that Ferries carrying migrants from the Greek islands of Kos, Chios and Lesbos reached the Turkish port towns of Gulluk, Cesme and Dikili on Tuesday. However, the official has spoken on condition of anonymity following government rules.
In separate development, 13 people have been deported from the island of Lesbos to the Turkish town of Dikli, while five others have been ferried back from Chios to Cesme, reports Antigua Observer quoting Greek police. A Greek government official has informed that all the deported are from Afghanistan and nobody has sought asylum in Greece. Turkey is committed to take back all migrants landing in Greece after March 20 following the migration agreement. EU has pledged to take a Syrian refugee directly from Turkey to provide asylum facility in any of its member countries. But Tuesday's deported refugees appear as the third phase returning to Turkey most of whom are from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar. In addition to pledge for rehabilitating thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey, EU has also committed to reward Ankara with more monetary facility. EU has offered early visa free travel for its citizens and progress in negotiations for getting membership of the bloc. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Prime Minister has warned last week that Turkey will no longer honor the accord if EU fails to ease visa requirements by June. Turkey has fulfilled only 19 out of 72 criteria for visa liberalization, observes the EU headquarters in Brussels. However, Mehmet Simsek, the Deputy Prime Minister, has committed on Tuesday meeting all criteria for visa liberalization by the beginning of May.
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