Turkey has paid the highest price for instability in the Middle East and has done its best to prevent it from spreading to Europe, the Turkish prime minister said on Monday. Binali Yildirim said Turkey was playing an important role in the region for establishing peace and blocking terrorist activities. “We are making a great sacrifice not to make our European friends pay that price”, he said, stressing that Turkey decreased the refugee influx to Europe through the Aegean Sea and land routes. “While we are waiting for these efforts to be recognized [by Europe], we are saddened when we hear reproachful statements, and when FETÖ members and PKK sympathizers are embraced”, he added.
