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Abbott makes foreign fighter deal with Turkey

AAP

AAP

Turkey will apprehend and send back Australian foreign fighters attempting to enter Iraq and Syria under a new agreement between the two countries.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davatoglu made the announcement at a joint press conference after a marathon meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Abbott is currently in Turkey for the centenary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli on Saturday.

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Under the new arrangement, Australia and Turkey will boost intelligence sharing, enabling Turkish authorities to send Australians attempting to fight overseas home.

More than 150 Australians have travelled to Turkey before entering Syria and Iraq to fight with the Islamic State.

The country shares a 400km-long border with Syria.

Mr Abbott said the meeting with Mr Davatoglu had generated “additional warmth” between Australia and Turkey – two countries that were at war with each other 100 years ago at Gallipoli.

“Our cooperation is deepening,” Mr Abbott said.

“I am confident that as a result of cooperation, as a result of additional warmth this visit has generated, that Australians who are wishing to transit through Turkey to Syria and Iraq will find it much, much more difficult.”

Mr Davatoglu highlighted the fact Australia and Turkey were now working together despite fighting against each other in WWI, saying it could be possible for other countries, too.

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