Turkish foreign minister in verbal duel with Austrian counterpart over migrant crisis

The way events have unfolded recently, the issue of the migrant deal struck between Europe and Turkey appears to have come back on the anvil. Following the aggressive stance taken by the President of the European Commission and by the German Vice Chancellor on this issue, the Austrian Foreign Minister too has entered the fray. Europe will not be intimidated by the threat received from Turkey, reprimanded Austria’s Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had warned that if Turkish citizens were not granted visa free travel, Turkey would then step back from both the deal of accepting migrants and the March agreement as well. Reacting sharply to this threat, the Austrian Foreign Minister said that the ultimatum given by the Turkish Foreign Minister was not acceptable. He asserted further that Europe would not be intimidated by such threats and would protect its borders.

While responding to the warning issued by the Austrian Foreign Minister, the Turkish Minister expressed his ire saying that his statement was not an ultimatum. It was but freedom of expression.