“Macron understands that Erdogan’s claims to the EU concern not only the situation in Idlib, but also the Kurdish issue, recognition of the Armenian genocide, disputes over the Turkish presence in Northern Cyprus. In this situation, one concession will inevitably entail a series of others, ”said Yelena Panina (United Russia), a State Duma deputy, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on a statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had promised to help Bulgaria and Greece against the backdrop of Turkey’s actions, which had opened border with the EU for refugees from Syria.
According to Panina, Macron’s position is in sharp contrast with the recent statement by German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who called for increased pressure on Russia in connection with the aggravation of the situation in Syria.
“The French president proposes to take concrete measures to counter the destructive policies of Erdogan, which compares favorably with many systemic European politicians who only do what they blame Russia for everything,” Panina emphasized.
The politician recalled that refugees from Syria have been in Turkey for many years, starting in 2011, when a civil war broke out in Syria.
“Attempts to link the refugee problem with the operation of the Syrian forces in Idlib is an outright blackmail, in order to force European countries to exert pressure on Russia and force it to curtail the peacekeeping operation in Syria. However, blackmail against Russia has never been successful, and will not pass this time, either, ”Panina said.