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Erdoğan brands Dutch 'Nazi remnants' for barring Turkish MP Erdoğan brands Dutch 'Nazi remnants' for barring Turkish MP
(35 minutes 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 the 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 Mevlut Cavusoglu 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. 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.
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Cavusoglu had been barred from landing. 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 vote on Wednesday in national elections, the campaigning for which has featured anti-immigration sentiment, and there are concerns Cavusoglu’s presence could disrupt public order. The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Çavuşoğlu had been barred from landing.
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,” with the crowds booing in response. 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.
Rutte said Turkey’s call for a large rally in Rotterdam had derailed discussions about whether Cavusoglu could enter the country. A threat of sanctions from Turkey if Cavusoglu were denied entry “made a reasonable solution impossible”, he said. 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.
Cavusoglu 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. 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.
“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.”