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Turks 'detached from reality' - EU's Donald Tusk Turks 'detached from reality' - EU's Donald Tusk
(about 1 hour later)
Turkey is "completely detached from reality" in calling the Dutch fascists, European Council President Donald Tusk has said.Turkey is "completely detached from reality" in calling the Dutch fascists, European Council President Donald Tusk has said.
His remarks come amid a row between Turkey and European nations over campaigning for a Turkish referendum.His remarks come amid a row between Turkey and European nations over campaigning for a Turkish referendum.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the Dutch government of being "Nazi remnants".Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the Dutch government of being "Nazi remnants".
He was infuriated when a minister was barred from addressing a Rotterdam rally, sparking clashes with police.He was infuriated when a minister was barred from addressing a Rotterdam rally, sparking clashes with police.
Mr Erdogan's rhetoric intensified when he accused the Dutch of carrying out the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia in 1995. The killings of Muslim men and boys was carried out by Bosnian Serb forces and the remarks were condemned by the Dutch prime minister as a "vile falsification". Mr Erdogan's rhetoric intensified when he accused the Dutch of carrying out the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia in 1995. The killings of Muslim men and boys were carried out by Bosnian Serb forces and the remarks were condemned by the Dutch prime minister as a "vile falsification".
In his remarks to the European Parliament on Wednesday Mr Tusk said the Netherlands was "a place of freedom and democracy. And for sure Rotterdam," he said. Mr Tusk's remarks to the European Parliament came on the day the Dutch vote in an election in which the party of centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte and that of anti-immigrant Geert Wilders are frontrunners.
The Netherlands is "a place of freedom and democracy. And for sure Rotterdam," Mr Tusk said.
"The city of Erasmus, brutally destroyed by the Nazis, which today has a mayor born in Morocco," he added."The city of Erasmus, brutally destroyed by the Nazis, which today has a mayor born in Morocco," he added.
"If anyone sees fascism in Rotterdam, they are completely detached from reality.""If anyone sees fascism in Rotterdam, they are completely detached from reality."
Germany and Austria have also acted to stop Turkish rallies aimed at stirring support for a "yes" vote in a 16 April referendum on giving President Erdogan greater powers. Germany and Austria have also acted to stop Turkish rallies. The gatherings are aimed at garnering support for a "yes" vote in a 16 April referendum on giving President Erdogan greater powers.
More on this story:More on this story:
Mr Tusk's remarks were applauded by MEPs.Mr Tusk's remarks were applauded by MEPs.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he was "scandalised" by President Erdogan's remarks, which he said "drives Turkey further away from the European Union". European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he was "scandalised" by President Erdogan's remark, which he said "drives Turkey further away from the European Union".
Last year, the European Parliament called for a suspension of Turkey's EU membership talks, and those calls seem set to grow louder, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul. What's Erdogan's game? Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul
In 2005, Turks lined the road to cheer Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he returned from Brussels, where Turkey had begun EU membership talks. This week Mr Erdogan lambasted Europe's leaders with extraordinary invective. What is his game?
The answer is domestic politics. Turkey's president is entirely focused on next month's referendum on expanding his powers: the climax of his career. Polls suggest it's close. He needs to rally his nationalist support base and the far-right, who like the image of a strongman standing up to Europe.
With an overwhelmingly pro-government media that hammers home his propaganda (recent headlines include "Dutch Nazi dogs" and "They will pay the price"), he believes he has a winning formula.
That, coupled with Mr Erdogan's notorious reluctance to pull back or bow to diplomatic norms, means the inflammatory rhetoric will continue. In the process, the gulf between Turkey and Europe widens. And that's good for neither side.
Last July, President Erdogan survived an attempted coup. He says European nations failed to demonstrate their solidarity and he has come under criticism for the hundreds of thousands of civil servants purged in a crackdown in response.
In November, the European Parliament called for a suspension of Turkey's EU membership talks, and those calls seem set to grow louder, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul.
Germany - accused last week by Mr Erdogan of "Nazi practices" - has now raised the prospect of a complete entry ban on Turkish politicians.Germany - accused last week by Mr Erdogan of "Nazi practices" - has now raised the prospect of a complete entry ban on Turkish politicians.
Peter Altmaier, chief of staff for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said such a ban would be permitted under international law but would be a "last resort. But we reserve the right to do that".Peter Altmaier, chief of staff for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said such a ban would be permitted under international law but would be a "last resort. But we reserve the right to do that".
The small western German state of Saarland moved on Tuesday to ban all foreign politicians from campaigning in the state.The small western German state of Saarland moved on Tuesday to ban all foreign politicians from campaigning in the state.