Erdogan blasts Netherlands as row between the two countries escalates

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has blasted the Netherlands describing the country as acting like "Nazi remnants," comparing it to a "banana republic" and should be sanctioned as the diplomatic dispute between the two countries escalate following the banning of Turkish ministers from addressing a rally in Rotterdam.

Erdogan who is hoping that the large number of Turks living in Europe, especially in Germany, France and the Netherlands, will help secure victory next month in a referendum that would give the presidency more powers said

 "Has Europe said anything? No. Why? Because they don't bite each other. The Netherlands are acting like a banana republic," adding that the country be sanctioned.

Recall that the Netherlands on Saturday barred the plane carrying Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from landing in Rotterdam and later stopped Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate there, before escorting her out of the country to Germany.

On Sunday, Dutch police used dogs and water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam while several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons, said a Reuters witness.

According to the Dutch government, the visits are undesirable and hold fears that tensions in Turkey might spill over into their expatriate communities.


Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has described Erdogan's comments as inflammatory and called for an apology from Turkey's president.

Associated press