Free Republic

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has warned Europe that without Ankara's help it could be "flooded" by waves of migrants and cutting off talks with the bloc would be far more damaging to Europe than Turkey. "We are one of the factors protecting Europe. If refugees go through, they will flood into Europe and take it over, and Turkey prevents this," Yildirim said in comments broadcast live on television. "I accept that cutting off ties with Europe would harm Turkey, but it would damage Europe 5-to-6 times more."

The European Union’s ambassador to Turkey has quit after criticizing the Turks for their handling of a deal to tackle the refugee crisis, and telling them they should be more like Germans. Under the terms of the controversial pact, Turkey gets cash and visa-free travel to the EU in return for taking back migrants illegally crossing the Mediterranean to Europe. Turkey also wants discussions on it joining the EU to be restarted as the price for its help. The European Commission has set 72 conditions that Turkey must meet to get visa-free travel. But negotiations have stalled over the EU’s...