Speaking in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey did not receive the support it expected from the international community when it comes to refugees but he was hoping to get a different result after Monday’s talks.
He called on Greece on Sunday to “open the gates” to migrants after he previously said he would not stop people leaving Turkey to go to Europe.
“Hey Greece! I appeal to you… open the gates as well and be free of this burden,” Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul.
“Let them go to other European countries.”
Erdogan said on Sunday that he will meet with European Union officials in Belgium to discuss migrant issues on Monday, after he previously said migrants would not be prevented from leaving Turkey for Europe.
“I will have a meeting with European Union officials tomorrow (Monday) in Belgium,” Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul, adding he would discuss the migration issue.
“I hope I will return from Belgium with different outcomes.”
