Izmir, Turkey, Feb 9 (CTK) – The influx of refugee to Turkey is unlikely to be fully stopped because most of them are ready to set out for Europe at almost any cost, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said during his visit to the Turkish port of Izmir on Tuesday.
However, it may be still possible to create such conditions that would tend to deter the refugees from the risky journey across the Aegean Sea, he added.
The Czech Republic will give ten million crowns to Turkey for its struggle against the smugglers of goods and people, Zaoralek said.
“We are interested in helping create better conditions for the refugees in Turkey. If possible, they should not leave Turkey and have a bigger chance of returning to Syria,” he added.
Zaoralek said according to the information from Izmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu and Governor Mustafa Toprak Turkey was just a transfer station for most refugees on their way to Europe.
“They said it was an illusion that it was possible to create for them such conditions as to make them stay,” Zaoralek said.
“Nevertheless, we can increase the number of those staying here,” he added.
The ten million crowns for Turkey may be used to the benefit of the Turkish coast guard or humanitarian projects, Zaoralek said.
Turkey should try to ensure education for refugees’ children and open its labour market for them, Zaoralek said.
Roughly 80,000 refugees are now registered in Izmir with its 4.5 million population.
Kocaoglu said their real number could reach 120,000, perhaps up to 200,000.
The smuggling gangs that organise the transport of people in dinghies pose a big problem, Zaoralek said.
“There is a robust network of people smugglers. We should be ready to contribute to its busting by both human forces and technologies,” he added.
The fight against people smugglers should not founder because their networks infiltrate the political scene, Zaoralek said.
“It is unacceptable to put up with their having a say in politics. This is nonsense. In this, one has to reject any compromise,” he added.
The discussion with the Turkish officials also touched upon business for Czech companies, but it was dominated by migration.
Before the trip, the Foreign Ministry said Zaoralek wanted to find out in Turkey what problems were faced by the local authorities when it comes to the refugees and to discuss the Czech aid.
The refugees are mostly shipped from Turkey to Greek islands, from where they continue up the north, further to Europe, mostly to Germany, Sweden and Austria.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said almost 58,600 people came to Greece from Turkey in January.
Despite the harsh winter weather, over 1,900 persons are arriving a day from the Turkish coast.
Last November, the EU concluded an agreement with Turkey under which it should take some steps to curb illegal migration. For this, the EU promised three billion euros to Ankara and progress in Turkey’s accession talks with the EU.
From Turkey, Zaoralek will tonight travel to Macedonia where he will debate the migrant situation with his counterpart Nikola Popovski.
