PM pledges to break ‘cycle of recklessness’

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey toning down his language after an inflammatory speech that sparked a diplomatic row.

Mr Morrison believes his Turkish counterpart has “moderated” his views about Australians, after a series of high-level crisis meetings on Wednesday night.

Mr Erdogan was reported as saying that any Australians who harboured anti-Muslim views similar to those of the Christchurch mass killer and who visited Turkey would be “sent back in coffins” like their grandfathers at Gallipoli.

Mr Morrison said in Melbourne yesterday: “It’s my

intention to break any cycle of recklessness and work through the issues practically … to register in the strongest and clearest terms the offence that was taken — I believe rightly — by those comments yesterday, but now to work constructively.”

Fahrettin Altun, a communications director for the Turkish presidency, said Mr Erdogan’s words had been “taken out of context”. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the comments were dangerous and very disturbing. He said many Australians, including school groups, were in Turkey to visit war sites and memorials ahead of Anzac Day next month.

“The comments were dangerous and they were called out. If there is an apolo- gy and a backdown, I think that’s entirely appropriate,” said Mr Dutton.

The Prime Minister summoned the Turkish ambassador to Parliament House on Wednesday to ask him to explain the President’s remarks. He confirmed all options for responding were still on the table, including demanding a formal apology or kicking out the ambassa- dor. Australian diplomats will today attend an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic co-operation in Turkey to discuss the terror attacks in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, official travel advice for Turkey is still under review, Australia’s travel advice for Turkey is already set at “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorism.