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Erdoğan brands Dutch 'Nazi remnants' for barring Turkish MP Erdoğan brands Dutch 'Nazi remnants' for barring Turkish MP
(about 1 hour later)
The Turkish president has branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants” and “fascists” after one of his ministers was barred from entering the country in an escalating row over a cancelled rally in Rotterdam.The Turkish president has branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants” and “fascists” after one of his ministers was barred from entering the country in an escalating row over a cancelled rally in Rotterdam.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his comments on Saturday after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his foreign minister to land there for a planned visit.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his comments on Saturday after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his foreign minister to land there for a planned visit.
Rotterdam city authorities withdrew permission on Friday for Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to attend a meeting of the Turkish community to rally support for Erdoğan’s plans to extend his powers. The plans are to be voted on in a referendum in Turkey next month.Rotterdam city authorities withdrew permission on Friday for Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to attend a meeting of the Turkish community to rally support for Erdoğan’s plans to extend his powers. The plans are to be voted on in a referendum in Turkey next month.
Several other European cities have banned Turkish officials from attending such meetings aimed at expats who are allowed to vote in the referendum.Several other European cities have banned Turkish officials from attending such meetings aimed at expats who are allowed to vote in the referendum.
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Çavuşoğlu had been barred from landing.The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Çavuşoğlu had been barred from landing.
The Dutch vote on Wednesday in national elections, the campaigning for which has featured anti-immigration sentiment, and there are concerns Çavuşoğlu’s presence could disrupt public order.The Dutch vote on Wednesday in national elections, the campaigning for which has featured anti-immigration sentiment, and there are concerns Çavuşoğlu’s presence could disrupt public order.
Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, Erdoğan said of the Dutch government: “They do not know politics or international diplomacy … these Nazi remnants, they are fascists,” as the crowd booed in response.Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, Erdoğan said of the Dutch government: “They do not know politics or international diplomacy … these Nazi remnants, they are fascists,” as the crowd booed in response.
Rutte said Turkey’s call for a large rally in Rotterdam had derailed discussions about whether Çavuşoğlu could enter the country. A threat of sanctions from Turkey if Çavuşoğlu were denied entry “made a reasonable solution impossible”, he said.Rutte said Turkey’s call for a large rally in Rotterdam had derailed discussions about whether Çavuşoğlu could enter the country. A threat of sanctions from Turkey if Çavuşoğlu were denied entry “made a reasonable solution impossible”, he said.
Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday he would fly to the Netherlands despite the rally being cancelled. He said he was expected to appear at the Turkish consulate, as he had done when authorities in Hamburg banned him from speaking at a rally in the German city last week.Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday he would fly to the Netherlands despite the rally being cancelled. He said he was expected to appear at the Turkish consulate, as he had done when authorities in Hamburg banned him from speaking at a rally in the German city last week.
“If my going will increase tensions, let it be,” he told CNN Turk. “What damage will my going have on them? I am a foreign minister and I can go wherever I want.”“If my going will increase tensions, let it be,” he told CNN Turk. “What damage will my going have on them? I am a foreign minister and I can go wherever I want.”
Rutte said that while the Netherlands and Turkey could try to find “an acceptable solution”, Turkey was not respecting the rules relating to public gatherings.Rutte said that while the Netherlands and Turkey could try to find “an acceptable solution”, Turkey 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. The Dutch government does not have any protest against gatherings in our country to inform them about it,” he said.“Many Dutch people with a Turkish background are authorised to vote in the referendum over the Turkish constitution. The Dutch government does not have any protest against gatherings in our country to inform them about it,” he said.
“But these gatherings may not 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 may not 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.”
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, criticised the Dutch decision, saying it was “not correct.Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, criticised the Dutch decision, saying it was “not correct.
“Those who defend democracy would not do such things. You’ll call yourself a democrat and then not permit the flight of a minister of the Turkish republic?”“Those who defend democracy would not do such things. You’ll call yourself a democrat and then not permit the flight of a minister of the Turkish republic?”
Later on Saturday, the Turkish foreign ministry said it does not want the Dutch ambassador to Turkey, who is currently on leave, to return to the country “for some time”..
In a statement, the ministry was also critical of the decision by the Netherlands to bar Çavuşoğlu: “It has been explained to our counterparts that this grave decision taken against Turkey and the Dutch Turkish community will cause serious problems diplomatically, politically, economically and in other areas.”