Report: Turkey stops refugees travelling to Greece

Istanbul (dpa) - Turkish security forces have caught nearly 3,000 migrants in recent days in an effort to crack down on Syrian refugees trying to take boats to reach Greece, the Dogan news agency reported on Friday.Turkey last month agreed with the European Union to take measures to curb illegal migration to the bloc, in return for 3 billion euros (3.2 billion dollars) in aid and improved relations with Ankara, including potential visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.According to Dogan, Turkish forces began operations this week in areas across from the Greek island of Lesbos, a key destination point just several kilometres off Turkey‘s shores.Turkey also arrested 35 people smugglers who are charging migrants, including refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, for help in reaching European territory.The Turkey-EU deal was sharply criticized in some circles, in part due to concerns over Ankara‘s stance on democracy and fundamental rights.Some 2.2 million Syrians have fled their homeland to Turkey since 2011, when the civil war broke out. Hundreds of thousands have since moved on to Europe, which is facing its largest influx of migrants since World War II and is keen for Turkey to help stem the flow.As part of the deal, Turkey is meant to improve the lives of refugees in Turkey. Most are currently not allowed to work and many live in poverty.Meanwhile, Turkey‘s EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said the country would not become "an open air migrant camp," insisting there is a need for managed migration routes. He said the EU money will go to help refugees.Bozkir was speaking with journalists en route to Brussels for talks, the Sabah daily reported.