Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the EU was exercising democratic values selectively and that it should not be standing by the Netherlands, which it accused of violating human rights and European values.
Ankara has suspended high-level diplomatic relations after Dutch authorities prevented its ministers from speaking at rallies of expatriate Turks, worsening a row between the NATO allies.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn had called on Turkey to refrain from “excessive statements” to avoid further escalating the dispute.
“EU counterparts are exercising democratic values and basic rights and freedoms selectively.
“It is very grave for the EU to hide behind member country solidarity and stand by the Netherlands, which has clearly violated human rights and European values.
“It should be understood that the EU’s statement actually helps the cause of extremes such as xenophobia and anti-Turkish sentiment,” “, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Mogherini and Hahn’s statement included “inaccurate assessments.”
President Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking Turkish voters’ support in an April 16 referendum on boosting his powers as head of state accused the Dutch government of acting like “Nazi remnants” for barring his ministers.
The sanctions include the banning of the Dutch ambassador and diplomatic flights from the Netherlands.
They do not appear to include economic measures or travel restrictions for ordinary citizens.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the sanctions were “not too bad” but were inappropriate as the Dutch have more to be angry about. (Reuters/NAN)
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