Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday, February 10 slammed as "hypocritical" calls by some countries urging Ankara to open its borders to Syrian refugees while failing to demand Russia halts punishing air strikes, AFP reports.
On a visit to the Netherlands, Davutoglu insisted the borders of his country had always been open to those fleeing Syria's civil war. Turkey already hosts some 2.5 million Syrian refugees.
"I find it hypocritical that some circles are telling Turkey to “open your borders” while at the same time failing to tell Russia “enough is enough”," Davutoglu told reporters.
But he added: "We will take in Syrians who want to come (to Turkey), but as a priority we are building a new camp to accommodate Syrians inside Syria's borders."
The Turkish leader also claimed that what was happening in Aleppo was "ethnic cleansing… with the goal of only leaving those behind who support the regime."
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced late last month that current bombing operations will be expanded from Iraq into its war-torn neighbor after the Netherlands received a request to join the U.S.-led campaign.
