EU calls for calm in row with Turkey
Merkel rejects ‘Nazi’ slur
BRUSSELS, March 13, (RTRS): The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday called on Turkey to refrain from excessive statements and actions that could fuel a diplomatic row over Turkish politicians seeking to hold rallies in EU countries to promote a constitutional referendum.
Over the weekend Turkey told the Netherlands that it would retaliate in the “harshest ways” after Turkish ministers were barred from speaking there.
“It is essential to avoid further escalation and find ways to calm down the situation,” a Commission spokesman told a regular briefing.
The European Union will assess planned Turkish constitutional changes in light of the country’s status as a candidate for EU membership, the European Commission said on Monday.
Having survived a military coup in July, Turkish president President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the referendum is needed to stabilise the country, though European politicians have criticised his approach.
“The proposed amendments, if approved at the referendum of 16 April, and especially their practical implementation, will be assessed in light of Turkey’s obligations as an EU candidate country and as a member of the Council of Europe,” the European Commission said in a statement.
Juncker
Dispute
Meanwhile, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg on Monday called on two of the alliance’s members, Turkey and the Netherlands, to defuse their escalating dispute.
“Robust debate is at the heart of our democracies but so is mutual respect,” Stoltenberg said. “I would encourage all allies to show mutual respect, to be calm and have a measured approach.”
“To contribute to deescalate the tensions, defuse tensions and deescalate the situation, it’s important that we now focus on everything that unites us.”
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected as completely unacceptable comments by Erdogan referring to the Netherlands as “Nazi remnants”, telling a group of business leaders on Monday that remarks invoking the Nazi past were misguided.
Erdogan had branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants, fascists” on Saturday after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his Foreign Minister to land there.
Rotterdam city authorities had refused to allow him to attend a meeting to rally support for Erdogan’s plans for extended powers which will be put to a referendum next month.
“Germany completely rejects rhetorical and any other comparisons with the National Socialists made by the Turkish president,” Merkel said, adding she had already condemned Nazi analogies he had levelled against Germany in a speech in parliament last week.
“This rejection is also valid for our allies, such as the Netherlands. These comparisons are completely misguided. 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.”
Erdogan, who survived an army attempt to topple him in July, is working to win the votes of Turks abroad in an April referendum that would give him sweeping new powers. But unease is spreading in Europe over the dispatch of ministers to communities themselves sometimes deeply divided.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday said Erdogan’s remark comparing the Dutch to the Nazis was “way out of line”.
“It’s a crazy remark of course,” Rutte told reporters during campaigning for the March 15 election. “I understand they’re angry, but this of course was way out of line.”
Germany’s interior minister said on Sunday there were “clear limits” if Turkish ministers want to campaign among immigrants in Germany, striking a tougher tone than the previous line from Berlin as a row between Ankara and EU states escalates.
Thomas de Maiziere told broadcaster ARD he did not support ministers campaigning in Germany.
“You have to carefully consider whether one imposes a ban on entry. But there are limits — clear limits — for example the criminal code: we have provisions in our criminal code,” de Maiziere told broadcaster ARD.
“Anyone who insults Germany or its constitutional order and derides it in a malicious way is liable to prosecution. That, at least, would be a limit.”
On Saturday Erdogan branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants, fascists” after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his foreign minister to land there.
Berlin has said Turkey must not use Nazi comparisons but has stopped short of advocating a ban on ministers campaigning for a referendum next month on whether to grant the president greater powers.
Individual local authorities last week cancelled several planned appearances due to security concerns but the foreign minister made a speech in Hamburg.
Turkey told the Netherlands on Sunday that it would retaliate after its ministers were barred from speaking in Rotterdam.
Unacceptable
In Stockholm, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday that the Turkish president’s mention of Nazism and fascism during a diplomatic row with the Netherlands was unacceptable.
“It is true that when one mentions Nazism and fascism .... it’s unacceptable,” Ayrault told reporters, during a news conference held with his Swedish counterpart.
Erdogan, who is seeking support from Turks in a referendum on boosting his powers, has said the Netherlands is acting like a “banana republic” and should face sanctions for barring his ministers from speaking in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
On March 11, Erdogan branded the Netherlands as “Nazi remnants, fascists”, while a day later Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described the Netherlands as the “capital of fascism”.
The row marks another low point in relations between Turkey and Europe, further dimming Ankara’s prospects of joining the bloc. It also comes as Turkey is caught up by security concerns over militant attacks and the war in neighbouring Syria.
Ayrault called on all sides to end the diplomatic row, adding that Turkey should respect the European convention on human rights.