Greek police block Anadolu Agency reporters from story

By Ayhan Mehmet

LESBOS, Greece (AA) - Police prevented Anadolu Agency reporters from covering the refugee situation on the Greek island of Lesbos on Wednesday.

Greek police allowed other national and international journalists to enter the port area, but one officer told a Turkish reporter, "you are not authorized to report here. Leave the port area."

The officer claimed he was instructed not to take the Turkish press to the port.

Turkey announced last week it would no longer stop asylum seekers from reaching Europe.

Thousands of asylum seekers have since flocked to Edirne, along the border with Greece and Bulgaria, in an attempt to get to Europe.

Turkey’s decision was made after 34 of its soldiers were martyred by Assad regime forces in Idlib, northwestern Syrians.

The Turkish soldiers were working to protect local civilians under a 2018 deal with Russia under which acts of aggression are prohibited in the region.

Turkey, which already hosts nearly 4 million Syrian migrants, more than any country in the world, says it cannot absorb another refugee wave.

Ankara has repeatedly complained that Europe has failed to keep its promises under the 2016 EU-Turkey refugee deal to help migrants and stem further migrant waves.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak