Greece says EU-Turkey deal to stem migrant flow largely holding
A deal between the European Union and Turkey to stem a flow of migrants has largely held, though Athens is watching with concern events unfolding in Turkey, where an attempted coup was put down last month, Greece's migration minister told the German newspaper Bild.
 |
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said over the weekend that Ankara would back out of the agreement with the EU if the bloc did not deliver the promised visa-free travel for Turks in return.
The 28-nation EU depends on Ankara to enforce the deal, which has sharply cut the number of refugees and migrants leaving Turkey for Greece. Grappling with a major financial crisis, Greece struggled to cope with the influx.
"Up to now the agreement is well-kept," Greek migration minister Yiannis Mouzalas said in a transcript of remarks.
"...Of course we are worried, but up to now, the number of people arriving on our islands is not an indication of non- compliance towards whatever has been agreed."
Greece's migration ministry issued what it said were written responses to Bild questions after the German publication quoted Mouzalas as saying the EU needed a 'Plan B' to counter Turkish threats to back out of the accord.
