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| Erdogan calls Dutch government 'Nazis' after Turkish foreign minister's plane prevented from landing in Netherlands | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Netherlands has withdrawn permission for a plane carrying Turkey’s foreign minister to land in the country ahead of a rally supporting expanded powers for Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | The Netherlands has withdrawn permission for a plane carrying Turkey’s foreign minister to land in the country ahead of a rally supporting expanded powers for Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
| The Turkish President responded by comparing the Dutch government to Nazis while addressing a rally of supporters in Istanbul. | |
| “You can stop our foreign minister's plane all you want, let's see how your planes will come to Turkey from now on,” Mr Erdogan told booing crowds. | |
| “They do not know politics or international diplomacy…these Nazi remnants, they are fascists.” | |
| A spokesperson for the Dutch government said the move was taken because of “risks to public order and security” caused by the proposed visit by Mevlut Cavusoglu to Rotterdam on Saturday. | A spokesperson for the Dutch government said the move was taken because of “risks to public order and security” caused by the proposed visit by Mevlut Cavusoglu to Rotterdam on Saturday. |
| A statement added that while the Netherlands and Turkey could search for “an acceptable solution”, Ankara was not respecting the rules relating to public gatherings. | A statement added that while the Netherlands and Turkey could search for “an acceptable solution”, Ankara was not respecting the rules relating to public gatherings. |
| “Many Dutch people with a Turkish background are authorised to vote in the referendum over the Turkish constitution,” it said. | “Many Dutch people with a Turkish background are authorised to vote in the referendum over the Turkish constitution,” it said. |
| “The Dutch government does not have any opposition to gatherings in our country to inform them about it. | “The Dutch government does not have any opposition to gatherings in our country to inform them about it. |
| “But these gatherings are not allowed to contribute to tensions in our society and everyone who wants to hold a gathering is obliged to follow instructions of those in authority, so that public order and safety can be guaranteed.” | “But these gatherings are not allowed to contribute to tensions in our society and everyone who wants to hold a gathering is obliged to follow instructions of those in authority, so that public order and safety can be guaranteed.” |
| The Dutch government said discussions had been held over whether a smaller meeting could be held in a Turkish consulate or embassy but that its suggestions had been met with threats of sanctions. | The Dutch government said discussions had been held over whether a smaller meeting could be held in a Turkish consulate or embassy but that its suggestions had been met with threats of sanctions. |
| “This makes the search for a reasonable solution impossible,” a spokesperson added. | “This makes the search for a reasonable solution impossible,” a spokesperson added. |
| “Therefore the Netherlands has decided to withdraw landing rights. The Netherlands regrets the course of events and remains committed to dialogue with Turkey." | |
| Mr Cavusoglu had already been barred from addressing a Turkish rally on the upcoming constitutional referendum by local authorities Rotterdam. | Mr Cavusoglu had already been barred from addressing a Turkish rally on the upcoming constitutional referendum by local authorities Rotterdam. |
| It was the latest of a series of prohibitions on campaigning in Europe by Turkish leaders drumming up support among the country’s expat voters, including several in Germany. | It was the latest of a series of prohibitions on campaigning in Europe by Turkish leaders drumming up support among the country’s expat voters, including several in Germany. |
| The foreign minister said he would visit Rotterdam regardless, accusing the government of effectively taking Turkish citizens hostage by banning the meeting. | The foreign minister said he would visit Rotterdam regardless, accusing the government of effectively taking Turkish citizens hostage by banning the meeting. |
| "These people are not your captives," he said in an interview with CNN Turk television. | "These people are not your captives," he said in an interview with CNN Turk television. |
| Mr Cavusoglu had said if the Netherlands refused him permission to fly to Rotterdam, Turkey would respond with harsh economic and political sanctions. | Mr Cavusoglu had said if the Netherlands refused him permission to fly to Rotterdam, Turkey would respond with harsh economic and political sanctions. |
| The diplomatic row comes just days before the Netherlands goes to the polls in parliamentary elections on 15 March. | |
| Anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has attempted to capitalise on the controversy with Turkey, leading a small protest outside the country's embassy and calling Mr Erdogan a “dictator”. | |
| “Leave us alone, lobby in your own country, and stay away,” he said ahead of Mr Cavusoglu's planned rally. | |
| “We would not allow lobbying for North Korea or Saudi Arabia in our country either,” he added, calling for the entire Turkish cabinet to be declared “persona non grata”. | |
| With tensions growing between the EU and Turkey, Mr Cavusoglu repeated threats to cancel agreements including last year’s deal to stem the flow of refugees to Greece if the bloc failed to implement promised visa liberalisation for Turks. | |
| He said Turkey would present a final text to the bloc on progress of the deal "and either it will all be cancelled, including the visa liberalisation and migrant deal, or it will all be implemented”. | |
| At least four German local authorities have also withdrawn permission for pro-Erdogan campaign events and the Austrian government has also said allies of the Turkish President cannot campaign in the country. | At least four German local authorities have also withdrawn permission for pro-Erdogan campaign events and the Austrian government has also said allies of the Turkish President cannot campaign in the country. |
| They are targeting more than a million Turkish voters living in Europe who will be eligible to cast a ballot in the vote on 16 April. | They are targeting more than a million Turkish voters living in Europe who will be eligible to cast a ballot in the vote on 16 April. |
| The referendum could see Turkey’s parliamentary system replaced with an executive presidency using constitutional amendments that have alarmed human rights groups. | The referendum could see Turkey’s parliamentary system replaced with an executive presidency using constitutional amendments that have alarmed human rights groups. |
| Germany’s refusals have sparked a diplomatic row seeing Angela Merkel’s government repeatedly compared to Nazis by Mr Erdogan and his ministers. | Germany’s refusals have sparked a diplomatic row seeing Angela Merkel’s government repeatedly compared to Nazis by Mr Erdogan and his ministers. |
| All cancellations have cited safety and administrative issues but the move has been linked to concern over the post-coup crackdown seeing thousands of people detained in Turkey, including a Die Welt journalist jailed on terror charges after reporting on government corruption. | All cancellations have cited safety and administrative issues but the move has been linked to concern over the post-coup crackdown seeing thousands of people detained in Turkey, including a Die Welt journalist jailed on terror charges after reporting on government corruption. |
| A spokesman for the President lambasted the bans, claiming they revealed a “tragicomedy” on attitudes towards the Turkish government and interference in the referendum. | A spokesman for the President lambasted the bans, claiming they revealed a “tragicomedy” on attitudes towards the Turkish government and interference in the referendum. |
| Ibrahim Kalin said: “A huge anti-Turkey, anti-Erdogan attitude is being systematically produced and serviced to the world, especially through Germany.” | Ibrahim Kalin said: “A huge anti-Turkey, anti-Erdogan attitude is being systematically produced and serviced to the world, especially through Germany.” |