Turkey can't handle additional migration burden: Erdogan

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – The Turkish president on Sunday talked with the EU Council president over the phone, saying Turkey cannot handle an additional migration wave.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Charles Michel that Turkey is already home to at least 5 million refugees, stressing that the country cannot handle an additional “migration burden.”

Erdogan also expressed satisfaction with the bloc’s decision to include Turkey in the EU's digital COVID-19 certificate system.

The unexpected power grab by the Taliban has triggered a rush to flee Afghanistan, including civilians who assisted foreign soldiers or groups and now fear retribution.