Ministers of Foreign Affairs from European Union Member States attend a meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, March 6, 2020. European Union (EU) foreign ministers met in the Croatian capital on Friday to discuss the crisis in northern Syria and the situation at the EU external borders with Turkey. (Josip Regovic/Pixsell/Handout via Xinhua)
ZAGREB, March 6 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers met in the Croatian capital on Friday to discuss the crisis in northern Syria and the situation at the EU external borders with Turkey.
The EU "strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes. This situation at the EU external borders is not acceptable," EU foreign ministers said in a statement after the meeting.
"The EU and its Member States remain determined to effectively protect EU's external borders," they said, expressing "full solidarity with Greece, which faces an unprecedented situation, as well as with Bulgaria, Cyprus and other Member States, which might be similarly affected."
EU foreign ministers noted in the statement that migrants should not be encouraged to attempt illegal crossings by land or sea. "Illegal crossings will not be tolerated," warned the statement.
"Don't go to the border, the border is not open. If someone tells you that you can freely go to Greece, Bulgaria or Cyprus, that is not true," said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell after the meeting.
Syria's northern Idlib province has witnessed an escalation since last December. More than 30 Turkish soldiers were killed last month around the area, which Turkey blamed on the Syrian government.
Following the latest developments in Idlib, Turkey said that it would no longer stop refugees from going to Europe, according to media reports.
At least 135,000 refugees crossed to Greece, Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu said on Wednesday.
