Assad says Erdogan blackmailing Europe with refugees

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday accused his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan of blackmailing Europe by opening its borders to fleeing refugees.

"Turkey has started to send a second wave of refugees as a form of blackmail to Europe," Assad said in an interview with the Russia 24 channel aired on Syrian state TV.

As thousands of desperate refugees gathered on Turkey's border with European Union member Greece, some EU states and the bloc's migration commissioner have also accused Turkey of using migrants as a bargaining chip with Brussels to get support for its operations in Syria.

A three-month-old military offensive by Damascus, which Russia has supported with air power, has shrunk Syria's last rebel bastion and displaced close to a million people.

https://www.france24.com/en/20200305-assad-says-erdogan-blackmailing-europe-with-refugees

[Amishman]

1. Assad might be a monster but that is a fairly accurate description

South Eastern Europe, especially Greece, have hit the limit of what their population is willing to accomodate in terms of refugees. European leaders know that a huge influx will mean an escalation in civil unrest.

[lagomorph777]

2. Dictator 1 says what about Dictator 2?

[Boomerproud]

6. Thread winner

[abqtommy]

3. Let's get real. I'm not a fan of either Assad or Erdogan but I'm sure Erdogan's decision to

open Turkey's borders is due to the exasperation of waiting for the rest of the world to clean up this
refugee business. I do support the refugees and will take any reasonable solution, whether motivated by blackmail or exasperation.

[maxsolomon]

4. you're SURE?

based on what?

[abqtommy]

5. Based on my experience. I'd be interested on hearing your opinion of the op.

Hearing about your opinion of my opinion, not so much.