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BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Istanbul in an effort to secure Turkey's help in stemming the flow of migrants from the Middle East to Europe. Merkel wants to cement a European deal with Turkey on aid and closer ties in return for help in encouraging refugees there to stay put.
Merkel has resisted pressure to tighten Germany's border controls and turn away refugees arriving from Austria, even as Germany expects up to 1 million new arrivals this year.
By going to Istanbul just two weeks before elections, Merkel risks Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan drawing her into his party's election campaign. Erdogan and his ruling AK Party, which faces a general election on Nov. 1, have an interest in avoiding any suggestion of a sellout to help ungrateful Europeans.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
