The refugee crisis ... Erdogan announces a Turkish-European summit and Greece is setting up barriers on the borders

Greek border guards continued to prevent refugees and migrants from crossing the border from the Turkish side, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a Turkish-European summit to be hosted by Istanbul on March 17 to discuss the refugee file and the recent developments in Syrian Idlib.

The official Turkish Anatolia news agency said today, Tuesday, that the Greek forces have erected dirt berms on the border with Turkey and deployed armed soldiers behind them. They have also started laying barbed wire on parts of the bank of the Merij River separating the two countries.

On the other hand, Greek officials said, in a statement to reporters at the border, that 963 people were prevented from crossing the border into the country between the morning of Monday morning until six in the morning, and the authorities arrested 52 of them.

The officials added that the detainees, including migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.

Meanwhile, the Turkish president told reporters while returning from Brussels, "The issue of Idlib, Syria and the refugees is more a test of the will and leadership of the European Union than Turkey."

He indicated that he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron next Tuesday (17 March) in Istanbul, adding that if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is able to attend, the summit will be quadruple.

Erdogan had left late yesterday meetings in Brussels with leaders of the European Union and NATO without issuing a joint statement or appearing in a joint press conference "as planned".

New stage
In his remarks today, the Turkish President said, "European leaders acknowledge that Turkey has fulfilled its obligations towards refugees, and those who have moved slowly on this matter." He stressed the possibility of starting a new phase with the European Union, and said that his country has made great strides in this regard.

Erdogan called on Greece to open its doors to asylum seekers, saying that they "do not intend to settle in Greece but rather intend to go to the rest of Europe" and described Greece's treatment of asylum seekers gathered at its borders as a "crime", and "we will hold it accountable for that."

In the same context, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo أوlu said that his country has moved to a new stage of dialogue with the European Union, but added that "the continuation of relations in a real way requires taking steps."

Ihsanoglu indicated that the agreement concluded by Ankara with the European Union in 2016 needs to be updated in light of the current crisis in northern Syria. Turkey hosts about 3.6 million Syrian refugees, and has curbed asylum to Europe under the 2016 agreement in exchange for billions of dollars in European aid.

The refugee influx began again to Turkey's western borders, hoping to cross into Europe since February 27, when Turkey announced that it would not hinder their movement to leave its territory.

Erdogan stressed that Turkey will keep its doors open to refugees wishing to go to Europe, stressing that his country no longer has the energy to absorb a new wave of asylum. Today, the Turkish President reiterated his call to Greece, a member of the European Union, to allow migrants to enter.

Greek security forces say they have prevented about 42,000 people from entering their territory since the refugee influx began after Erdogan's decision to open the border.

Greek forces use several methods to repel refugees, from pepper spray, water cannons and tear gas to rubber and live bullets.

Greek military vehicles and foot forces continued to patrol the border fence separating the Kastaniye Greek crossing from the site of the Turkish Kul Bazar border.