In an interview he gave in today’s Bild, the Turkish minister stated that “The Turkish people are emotionally hurt” after the faled coup attempt of July 15 and the Europeans are “humiliating us rather than help Turkey”. At the same time he expressed his sadness over the fact that the discussions over the visa waiver for the Turkish people who wish to visit the EU have been frozen.

According to the Turkish official, Ankara has worked “like few other countries in order to fulfill the prerequisites for becoming a member of the EU”. Yet it only receives “threats, insults and a complete blockage” from the 28 members of the European Union.

On the relation between the visa and the refugee agreement, the minister stated that “It is clear that we either honour all the agreements together, or we put them aside”. It should be noted that Turkey was promised a visa waiver for its citizens in exchange for its collaboration in controlling and limiting the flow of migrants from its coasts to Greece and the rest of Europe.