Turkey and Germany strike deal to alleviate Syria crisis

Turkey and Germany have agreed a set of measures to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis, including a joint diplomatic initiative aiming to halt attacks against Syria's largest city.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

German chancellor Angela Merkel said after talks with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu that she is “not just appalled but horrified” by the suffering caused by Russian bombing in Syria.

Turkish state media said yesterday at least 33 migrants attempting to reach Greece have drowned after two boats got into difficulties off the country’s coast.

The International Organisation for Migration says 374 migrants have died so far this year while trying to reach Greece.

Ms Merkel said Turkey and Germany will push at the United Nations for everyone to keep to a UN resolution passed in December that calls on all sides to halt attacks on the civilian population.

She said: “We have been, in the past few days, not just appalled but horrified by what has been caused in the way of human suffering for tens of thousands of people by bombing – primarily from the Russian side.

“Under such circumstances, it’s hard for peace talks to take place, and so this situation must be brought to an end quickly.”

Mr Davutoglu said the city of Aleppo “is de facto under siege”.

“We are on the verge of a new human tragedy,” he added.

Turkey is facing pressure from the EU to open its border to up to 35,000 Syrians who have massed along the frontier in the past few days fleeing an onslaught by government forces.

Ms Merkel was in Ankara for talks on how to reduce the influx of migrants into Europe.

Turkey, a key country on the route to Europe, is central to her diplomatic efforts to reduce the flow. Germany saw an unprecedented 1.1 million asylum seekers arrive last year, many of them fleeing the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Davutoglu said the two countries’ security forces would increase efforts to thwart illegal migration and combat smuggling groups.

The two leaders will also try to get Nato involved in the refugee issue, Mr Davutoglu said. He said they will seek the use of Nato’s observation capabilities at the border with Syria and in the Aegean Sea.

He also said the two countries’ aid organisations will co-operate in providing aid to the Syrians at the border.