Ankara denies plans to send African migrants from Italy to Türkiye

The Center for Combating Disinformation under the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied media reports about an agreement allegedly reached with Rome to send African refugees from Italian territory to Türkiye.

Report informs via TASS that this issue was allegedly discussed during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Istanbul on January 20.

During her walk around the city, she was accompanied by the Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli.

"Reports that Ilber Ortayli, who communicated with Italian Prime Minister Meloni, said that Italy wants to send African migrants to Türkiye, are not true. During Meloni’s visit, no agreements were reached and there was not even talk about this. It has been established that allegations that Italy will send refugees from Africa to Türkiye have become widespread after publication in the newspaper Il Giornale," the center said in a statement.