Government of Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using migrants as a "weapon" against the European Union, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Tuesday, urging member states to rally behind Greece as it tries to repel thousands of asylum seekers amassed at its border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has refused to attend a meeting with the Greek prime minister in Sofia on March 6 upon the initiative of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov after reports that the Greek police killed two Syrian refugees on the Turkish-Greek border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to hold multilateral talks on easing the migrant crisis that would involve Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has claimed according to reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with his German counterpart about recent developments including Idlib and the refugee crises, the Communications Directorate said early on March 3. 

In a statement, the directorate said Erdoğan and Chancellor Angela Merkel also discussed bilateral relations.

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has met United States State Department's Special Envoy James Jeffrey and U.S. Ambassador to Ankara David Satterfield in the Turkish capital to discuss the ongoing conflict in Idlib where the Turkish army launched an offensive against the Syrian regime forces.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar received a high-ranking U.S. official and the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, the Defense Ministry said on March 3.

Greece's Foreign Ministry issued a stern response after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Greek soldiers had killed two migrants and severely wounded a third.

In a televised address, Turkish President Erdogan said Turkey can no longer cope with the new wave of refugees. In search of a solution to the migration crisis for Bulgaria and the EU tonight, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Turkish President Recep Erdogan are meeting at a working dinner in Ankara on March 2, BNT reported.

Europe will now "share the burden" of migration, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said March 2, having already followed through on a threat to "open Turkey's gates" to refugees.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will pay a working visit to Ankara on March 3, according to Turkey's Foreign Ministry.

In a statement on March 2, the ministry said Raab will hold talks with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during the visit.

The duo will discuss bilateral issues following Brexit on Jan. 31.