Erdogan: In the last two years, the Turkish coast guard rescued 41,000 irregular migrants in the Aegean

The Turkish coastguard has saved thousands of lives of irregular migrants who were illegally pushed back by the Greek authorities, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on Monday.

“Thanks to the efforts of our coast guard, we have prevented deaths in the Aegean. In the past two years, we have saved the lives of 41,000 people whom Greece let die,” Erdogan said in a speech at a graduation ceremony of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy in Ankara. .

Erdoğan claimed that the irregular migrants arrested by the Turkish coast guard amounted to 245,000, adding that the Turkish gendarmerie was continuing its fight against irregular immigration and smuggling rings.

“If someone still criticizes our achievements in the defense industry despite the military reinforcement of Greece, it means that he lacks strategic vision,” the Turkish president continued.

The Turkish president said that Ankara has no enmity towards any country, noting: “On the contrary, we want to create the best, most advanced and honest relationship with every country.” He underlined, in fact, that Turkey aspires to create “a zone of peace and cooperation” around it, starting with its neighbors.

Then, referring to critics of “anti-terrorist operations” in northern Syria and northern Iraq, he said they are silent when “other countries, 10,000 kilometers away, come and intervene in Syria, Iraq and Libya.”

He warned that if these countries continue to support terrorist groups with ammunition, vehicles and equipment, Turkey will give them an appropriate response up to 30 kilometers beyond its borders. “If they are bothered by this, sorry, let them be bothered and we will continue on our way,” Erdogan said.

Pointing out that the Turkish military has expanded its zone of operations in Syria and Iraq, Erdogan stressed that the “terrorists” suffered the heaviest blows in areas “where they feel safer.”

SOURCE: AMPE