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| Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Turkish president accuses Germany of ‘mercilessly supporting terrorism’ | |
| (8 days 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. | 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. | 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. | 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”. | 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. | “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. | “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." | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | The dispute threatens to harm Turkey's already fragile bid to join the EU. |