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| - A recap of the main developments following Turkey's decision to open its borders to allow migrants through to Europe, in a bid to gain Western backing in Syria. On February 28, 2020, Turkey threatens to let thousands of refugees cross into Europe as a way to pressure European Union governments over the Syrian conflict. Turkey is already host to some four million refugees, 3.6 million of whom fled the civil war in neighbouring Syria. Ankara acted after Russian-backed Syrian forces killed more than 30 of its troops in the country's northwest. Under a 2016 deal between Turkey and the EU, Ankara agreed to stop refugee flows in exchange for billions of euros in aid, to end the continent's worst migration crisis since World War II. "We opened the doors," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says on February 29. Neighbouring EU member Greece boosts its border patrols. The European executive Commission calls on Ankara to respect the 2016 deal. Greek border guards at Kastanies, in the northeastern Evros region, say they have prevented hundreds of migrants from crossing from Turkey. On February 29 Turkey says it will keep its borders with Europe open. Clashes erupt between Greek police officers firing tear gas canisters and migrants throwing stones. The International Organization for Migration says it has observed "at least 13,000 people gathered along the 212-kilometre (130-mile) long border". According to the Greek coastguard, migrants arrive on the Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos in inflatable boats. On March 1, the EU's border protection agency Frontex says it is on "high alert" at the Greece-Turkey borders and deploying support to Greece. The United Nations calls for calm and urges states to refrain from "excessive" force. An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrive at the Pazarkule border gate, and another 500 by sea on Lesbos. Greece goes onto a state of "maximum" alert to protect its borders. On March 2, Erdogan calls on Europe to share the migrant "burden". The next day, EU chiefs visit the border area. On March 4, migrants and refugees clash with Greek police on the border. Erdogan says European countries must support Turkey's "solutions" in Syria if they want to resolve the crisis, accusing them of "trampling" migrant rights. Athens "categorically" denies having used live fire against migrants. The EU "strongly rejects" Turkey's "blackmail" and says the situation at its borders "is not acceptable". After visiting Ankara, its foreign policy chief Josep Borrell promises an additional 170 million euros ($189 million) in aid for vulnerable groups in Syria. On March 5, the Greek government says border guards have prevented nearly 7,000 attempted entries over the last 24 hours, and nearly 35,000 over the last five days. Turkey deploys 1,000 police officers to prevent Greece pushing migrants back. After hundreds more migrants and refugees land on the Aegean islands, Greece announces a week-long shipping ban there, excepting patrol vessels and registered commercial ships. fm-jmy/har
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