All News on Social Issues in Turkey

Bulgaria Backs Proposal for Migrant Centers Outside EU Borders

Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev shared his thoughts in Brussels regarding European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to establish centers for illegal migrants outside the European Union's borders. He stated, "This is not a bad idea; we have the first such example with Italy and Albania.

Pressure mounts amid surge in migrant flows

The refugee center in Shengjin in Albania, where irregular migrants that reached Italy will be transferred. Rome and Athens react to Berlin's pressure for a specific reference to the reactivation of Dublin in the conclusions of Thursday's European Council on migration.

Four migrants dead, 27 rescued off Kos island

Greece rescued 27 migrants and recovered the bodies of four dead people after their boat sank close to the island of Kos, the Greek coast guard said on Tuesday night.

Three coast guard ships along with a commercial vessel searched for more people in the area, the agency said.

Cargo ship rescues 81 migrants off southern Peloponnese

A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship brought 81 men, women and children safely to shore in Kalamata in the southwestern Peloponnese on Sunday, after the smuggling boat they were sailing in ran into trouble off the coast of Pylos, state broadcaster ERT reported on Tuesday.

Greek authorities processed the passengers of the vessel and have arrested four on charges of migrant smuggling. 

Turkish push for all-inclusive package

Turkey's position on Aegean issues remains firmly entrenched, as highlighted by recent remarks from diplomatic sources to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

More than 230 migrants reach Greece in small boats, half via the long route from Libya

More than 230 migrants reached Greece in small boats over the past two days, including a rare case of a crossing from north Africa to Greece's southern mainland, authorities have said.

The arrivals come as the government braces for a potential increase - that so far hasn't materialized - in migratory flows due to the fighting in the Middle East.

Ankara leveraging Halki bargaining chip

Ankara is apparently leveraging the potential reopening of the historic Greek Orthodox Halki theological seminary in Turkey as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Greece.

A government out of steam

There is an old Greek saying - my grandfather used it often: "Don't admire the swimmer when he first gets into the water, wait till he is done," meaning wait before you declare someone or something a success. About five years ago, in this column, I was hopeful that the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis was willing and able to bring about major positive changes to the country.

Two Turks arrested in Rhodes for human trafficking, luxury yacht seized

Authorities on the island of Rhodes arrested two Turkish nationals for human trafficking and seized a yacht and a car. 

Following a tip-off, a Turkish-flagged catamaran was found at the new yacht marina, where a 30-year-old man disembarked five migrants and loaded them into a rented car. 

A 41-year-old Turkish captain and five more migrants were found on the yacht. 

More than 230 migrants reached Crete from North Africa over the weekend

More than 230 migrants crossing the Mediterranean in small boats from North Africa reached Greece's southern island of Crete over the weekend, Greek authorities said Monday.

The arrivals, in six separate crossings, far outnumbered the few dozen migrants who took the more common route from Turkey to the nearby eastern Aegean islands over the weekend.

Greece, Turkey at odds over minority schools

ISTANBUL - Tensions between Turkey and Greece are escalating due to disputes surrounding educational policies for minority schools. The Turkish Ministry of Education has introduced new restrictions affecting Greek minority schools in Istanbul, limiting events and visits that are not directly related to educational purposes.

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