Aboard the watercraft there were 84 undocumented people who were spotted along the Aiydin province´s coasts, while another 37 were found in a similar situation near Balikesir, both western regions.

Migrants trying to reach Greek´s coasts in the Aegean Sea are now in the hands of authorities.

From months ago, government from President Recep Tayyp Erdorgan accuses Athens of illegally expelling from their waters the vessels coming from Turkey.

In Greece, they classified this country as ¨safe¨, so, people arriving from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Somalia can no longer demand refuge in the Hellenic nation when coming through Turkish territory.

A previous agreement, signed on last March, 2016, between the European Union and this country validates that all migrants coming from the Greek islands be relocated in Turkey, should their refuge demands be rejected.

But Ankara only recognizes the Geneva Convention on Refugees when they come from Europe, and since March 2020, they do not accept returns from Greece, according to that country´s authorities.

Tensions rose in Eastern Mediterranean due to the disagreement between the two neighbor countries about the right for hydrocarbon research in the area, along with old disputes about cultural, religious and territorial issues.

pgh/lcp