This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/recep-tayyip-erdogan-germany-turkey-president-supports-terrorism-mercilessly-isis-a7628046.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Turkish president says Germany ‘mercilessly supports terrorism’ | Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Turkish president says Germany ‘mercilessly supports terrorism’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Turkey’s president has accused Germany of “mercilessly supporting terrorism” - the latest in a string of insults traded between Ankara and its Nato allies in northern Europe. | |
| Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments, broadcast live on television, threaten to inflame an already volatile diplomatic crisis that erupted at the weekend when the Netherlands blocked Turkish ministers from speaking at a political rally in Rotterdam. | |
| On Saturday, Mr Erdogan branded the Netherlands "Nazi remnants, fascists" after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his Foreign Minister to land there. | |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel responded that Germany “completely rejects rhetorical and any other comparisons with the National Socialists made by the Turkish president”. | |
| “These comparisons are completely misguided,” she said. “They trivialise the suffering. | |
| “Particularly in the Netherlands that endured so much agony through the National Socialists, it's just completely unacceptable. | |
| “That's why the Netherlands can count on my complete support and solidarity on this." | |
| Mr Erdogan’s latest attack on Germany appears to come in response to Ms Merkel’s rebuttal, and at a time when the increasingly authoritarian leader is seeking support from Turks in a referendum on boosting his powers. | |
| It also comes as Turkey is caught up by its own terrorism problem, with militant attacks and the war in neighbouring Syria. | |
| Mr Erdogan has previously accused European countries, including Germany, of harbouring terrorists, something European countries deny. | |
| The Turkish president also said he planned to take the spat with the Netherlands to the European Court of Human Rights. | |
| The dispute threatens to harm Turkey's already fragile bid to join the EU. |