Getty President Erdogan attacked Europe just after shaking hands with the European Commissioner

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at European countries who put up razor-wire fences while Turkey "embraced three million Syrian victims" in an astonishing outburst just hours after the scheme came into existance. His comments came as the first set of migrants to be deported from Greece after crossing the Aegean were shipped back to Turkey under a controversial EU deal, signed off by the Turkish President himself.

As Turkey, we embraced three million Syrian victims, but it is clear who tried to keep them away President Tayyap Erdogan

In return, EU members will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with money, visa-free travel and a boost in its bid to becoming a member of the EU. The deal aims to discourage migrants from making the perilous crossing, often in small boats and dinghies, and to stop human smugglers who are fuelling Europe's biggest influx of migrants since the Second World War.

Many European countries, especially former Soviet countries, have reacted to the crisis by putting up fences in a bid to keep migrants out. But in a bizarre attack, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who gave the green light to the deal, said: "As Turkey, we embraced three million Syrian victims, but it is clear who tried to keep them away. "Did we send our Syrian brothers back? No we didn't. But they kept these people out of their countries by putting up razor-wire fences."

Getty The first set of migrants were transported across from Greece to Turkey to today

Two Turkish passenger boats carrying 136 migrants, mostly Pakistani, travelled from the island of Lesbos to the Turkish town of Dikili accompanied by two Turkish coast guard vessels with a police helicopter overhead. A third ship carrying 66 people, mainly Afghans, arrived later from the island of Chios. EU authorities said none of those deported today had requested asylum in Greece and all had left voluntarily, including two Syrians who had asked to return to Turkey.

Getty The first set of Syrian migrants arrived in Germany tody

European Commission spokesman Margaritas Schinas said the first returns were legal, even though Turkey has not yet changed its regulations - which the EU said was necessary at the time the deal was made. Despite the threat of deportation back to Turkey, more people arrived on the Greek islands in the 24-hours before Monday than were transported to Dikili, Greek authorities said. A few hours after the first boat of returnees set sail from Lesbos, Greek coast guard vessels rescued at least two dinghies carrying more than 50 migrants and refugees, including children and a woman in a wheelchair, trying to reach the island. Firaz, 31, a Syrian Kurd travelling with his cousin, said: "We are just going to try our chance. It is for our destiny. We are dead anyway." Asked whether he knew the Greeks were sending people back, he said: "I heard maybe Iranians, Afghans. I didn't hear they were sending back Syrians to Turkey. At least I did what I could. I'm alive. That's it."

Greek migrant crisis Tue, June 28, 2016 Hundreds of migrants deported to Turkey, as part of EU-Turkey Refugee Deal. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 141 Greek Orthodox monk welcoming refugees arriving on a dinghy on a northeastern coast of the island of Lesvos, Greece

Two groups of mainly Pakistani men, totalling around 100 people, were also intercepted by the Turkish coast guard on Monday near Dikili, an official said. The first 32 Syrian refugees arrived in Hanover, Germany on two flights from Istanbul on Monday as part of the deal to resettle thousands of legal Syrian refugees directly from Turkey. More flights were due in Finland today and the Netherlands on Tuesday. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Sunday that the "high point of the migrant crisis is behind us", but migration experts say the pressure to reach Europe will continue, possibly via other routes.

Getty There were some small protests