Bulgaria, Greece 'Not Letting in Syria Refugees from Edirne', Turkey Says

Turkey is keeping hundreds of refugees in because of resistance from Bulgaria and Greece, Trade Minister Cenap Aşçı has announced.

His comments come as Syrian refugees held on Saturday a demonstration in the southwestern city of Edirne, demanding that authorities let them leave for either Bulgaria or Greece.

"If neighboring countries let them in, Turkey would let them pass [through] the country," Hürriyet Daily News quotes him as telling journalists while visiting the central province of Aksaray.

Earlier this week, hundreds of people many of whom had set off from camps based in the south of the country arrived in the city of Edirne, not far from Turkey's borders with Bulgaria and Greece.

Following Sofia and Ankara's statement they were not letting more people in, Turkish authorities said they would send the refugees back to the camps in a matter of days.

Authorities maintain hundreds of people were "misinformed about migration to European countries", referring to rumors on the Internet. They also say most of the refugees have no proper documents.

Representatives of the Syrian refugees meanwhile held on Saturday a meeting with PM Ahmet Davutoğlu to discuss the developments.

Davutoğlu pledged to write a "personal letter" to government heads in Europe and inform them of the situation.

Also on Saturday, Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov said border police was patrolling along the border and would not allow an influx from Turkey.

However, he warned that neither fences no walls at the borders could provide a long-term solution.