Turkish PM denies allegation of returning refugees to Syria

Migrants are seen in a bus as they are moved to a Turkish coastguard station after a failed attempt at crossing to the Greek island of Lesbos, in the Turkish coastal town of Dikili, Turkey, April 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

HELSINKI - Visiting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday denied the allegation that the Turkish authorities had returned Syrian refugees to their home country.

Last Friday, human rights organization Amnesty International said that the Turkish authorities had forced many Syrian refugees to return to their war-ravaged home country.

The organization blamed Turkey for blatantly violating both their own laws and international agreements, saying that the illegal returns "expose the fatal flaws in a refugee deal signed between Turkey and the European Union" earlier in March.

In response to the allegation, Davutoglu told Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat that no one has been sent back to Syria. He also demanded evidence for the allegation.

Ahmet Davutoglu met his Finnish counterpart Juha Sipila here on Wednesday.

During their meeting, the two prime ministers focused their discussion on the bilateral relations between the two countries, the migration situation and the relations between the EU and Turkey.

Concerning the progress of the measures agreed between the EU and Turkey to stop irregular migrants flows from Turkey to EU states, Sipila said the implementation of the measures is extremely important.

He added that the EU funds for the Syrian refugees in Turkey must be made available in an appropriate and swift manner.