We came to an end with the deal regarding the refugee crisis between Turkey and the EU. After a lengthy negotiation process conducted between both parties, Turkey accepted to take an active role in combating the refugee crisis in exchange of a 3 billion euro worth financial assistance that will be used to tackle the refugee crisis, the acceleration of the visa liberalization dialogue towards Turkish citizens and the opening of  5 Chapters to negotiations

In his statement regarding the issue, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu stated that turning the issues related to technical negotiation process a material of negotiation by the EU in the handling of the refugee crisis is a wrong approach. In this respect, he explains as follows: “As a non-governmental organization following the relations between Turkey and the EU for 50 years, we do not accept that the visa issue and that Turkey’s EU accession negotiations ongoing for 10 years are being used as a bargain in the handling of the refugee crisis.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu: “We should not tackle the accession negotiation and refugee crisis in the same umbrella”

Chairman Zeytinoğlu stressed that in the accession negotiations process which is conducted correctly and fairly, it is evident that visa-free travel is provided to the citizens of the candidate states or that chapters are being opened to negotiations during this whole process. In this respect, he explained as follows: “At this point, we can observe that the chapters which should have been opened to negotiations long ago and the possibility of visa-free travel that our citizens are waiting for many years will be ensured with Turkey playing a more active role in the refugee crisis.  It is important not to tackle the accession negotiation and the refugee crisis in the same umbrella. If the negotiations process is conducted correctly and fairly, these chapters would have been opened in every circumstance and our citizens would have been able to travel to EU Member States visa-free”.

Referring to the chapters which are scheduled to be opened, Chairman Zeytinoğlu explained the following: “Today; chapters on Energy, Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, Justice, Security and Fundamental Rights, Foreign, Security and Defence Policy and Economic and Monetary Policy are on the table ready to be opened to negotiations.  As you know, both Turkey and the EU are calling upon for the opening of these chapters for a long period of time. Unfortunately, these calls have been unsuccessful. What has changed today that pushed the EU suddenly to give the green light for these chapters to be opened to negotiations?”

Chairman Zeytinoğlu: “We have witnessed once more how much the EU’s policy towards Turkey is wrong”

Chairman Zeytinoğlu added that the deal reached on the refugee crisis following the developments over the past 10 days may give further impetus to Turkey’s EU accession process.  He further stressed as follows: “Undoubtedly, these developments have the potential to renew the dynamism which lacked for a long period of time in our country’s EU accession negotiations process. We would have preferred for this dynamism to be developed within the framework of the negotiations process because of the mutual need of both parties and not because of the emergence of crises. However, we have seen once more how much the EU’s policy towards Turkey is wrong. The EU is trying to find a solution once more with Turkey to handle the refugee crisis. We already have been insisting that no solution to the EU’s problems could be produced “without Turkey”. The refugee crisis is the most actual and concrete example in that respect. Following yesterday’s EU Leaders Summit in Brussels, the President of the European Commission Juncker has described the deal as “a clear success”. Indeed, the EU succeeded in getting what it wanted. At the last time, it managed to reach its objective with the cards it had in its hand. However, it is difficult to describe such an agreement as a “success” from the perspective of Turkey-EU relations which have a 50 year old history”.

Chairman Zeytinoğlu: “1 out 122 persons in the world is a refugee today. This is not a regional but a global issue”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu reminded that in the 2014 Global Trends Report of UNHCR which was published in 2015, the number of refugees in the world has reached its highest level with more than 60 million people. Furthermore, he added that the refugee crisis is not only Turkey or the EU’s problem but truly a global issue. In that respect, he stressed the importance for G20 Leaders who will meet in Antalya in November to tackle this issue urgently. Chairman Zeytinoğlu added the following: “The UNHCR report is quite striking. There are today more than 60 million refugees in the world. This means that 1 out of 122 persons in the world is a refugee or a displaced person. If these people were a country, they would be the 24^th most populous country in the world. Therefore, the problem with which we are faced with today in our geography is not only Turkey or the EU’s problem but is a global issue. A global solution is needed for such an issue. First of all, it is of utmost importance to remove the instability which persists in many countries and which effectively leads to people to leave their own homeland. (…) The G20 Summit will be held in Antalya next month. This means that the leaders of the countries which represent 67% of the world’s population and 85% of the global economy will come together. I do sincerely hope that the G20 leaders will tackle the refugee crisis in a more serious manner and that, beyond financial assistance, they will show the necessary will to find a credible solution”.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu: “ The fact that viza liberalization is discussed during the negotiations does not mean that the visa obligation will be left”

Pointing out that the imposition of visa by EU Member States since 1980s became more of a torture than an experience for Turkish citizens entered a new phase with parties reaching a deal on the refugee crisis, IKV Chairman emphasized that this does not mean that we can travel visa-free: “The Readmission Agreement which has been negotiated between Turkey and the EU for a period of 10 years was signed in December 2013. Both parties have started a new chapter with this agreement in question in terms of solving unfair visa treatments. The criteria have been defined and a roadmap has been established in accordance with these criteria.  It has been now stated that this process will be speed up. Almost two year have passed since the visa liberalization dialogue was launched, there has been no change. If the EU pledges Turkey to accelerate the process, this should be kept in record, monitored and be implemented with sincerity.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu reminded that with the launch of this process in 2013, Turkey has made important commitments to the EU in many areas such as integrated border management, readmission mechanism and migration management. He also stressed that to be able to protect its own borders efficiently; it is important for Turkey to respect its commitments and further emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with EU in this area.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu: “Cooperation should not be limited to this area. It should be reflected also in the fight against terrorism”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu state that it has been agreed between Turkey and the EU to reinforce cooperation in coping with the refugee crisis. He also stressed that Turkey and the EU should reinforce cooperation in other areas starting with the fight against terrorism. In this respect, he said as follows: “In the upcoming period, there will be enhanced cooperation with the EU, Member States and European institutions as regards to the handling of the refugee crisis. But this cooperation should not be limited to this area. It is of utmost importance for Turkey and the EU to strengthen their cooperation not only to cope with the refugee crisis but also to fight against terrorism. Within this framework, it is imperative for EU Member States to stop immediately their support to terrorist organizations. This is essential not only to establish trust and sincerity but also to put an end to the instability witnessed in some countries.”