Czechia: We should talk to Erdogan for refugees' return

BERLIN/ANKARA

Czechia's prime minister said they need to talk with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to achieve the return of refugees in Turkey and Europe to their homes, according to German media.

Speaking in an interview to German daily Die Welt, Andrej Babis said Europe is in solidarity on irregular migration.

People need support at their home countries so that they don't leave, Babis said.

Babis said the return of refugees in Turkey and Europe to their homes should be the goal.

"To achieve this, we need to talk with President Erdogan. He has concrete plans on how to help the refugees," he stressed.

Meanwhile, high numbers of refugee arrivals at Greek island of Lesbos have been reported in the past weeks, EU Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said, speaking in a press briefing in Brussels on Monday.

Despite the refugee arrivals during this summer, there is still a decrease of 91% percent compared to the period before EU-Turkey deal in 2016, Bertaud said.

"We continue to monitor closely the arrivals in the Aegean," she added.

The 2016 Turkey-EU deal on refugees aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking strict measures against human trafficking and by improving the conditions for the 3 million -- now 3.6 million -- Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Turkey has complained that the EU failed to uphold its side of the deal, including billions of euros in aid for the Syrian refugees.

On Sept. 6, Erdogan warned that Turkey could "open its doors" to let Syrian refugees to cross into Europe if Ankara does not get the support it expects.

The EU had pledged €6 billion ($6.6 billion) aid to improve living conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, but only €2.22 billion ($2.45 billion) were disbursed as of this June, according to Turkey.

Turkey currently hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world.