Turkey lashes out at Merkel, cut off ties with the Netherlands

Turkey has gone one step further in its ongoing diplomatic disputes with the Netherlands by cutting off all high-level diplomatic relations with the country and accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of supporting terrorists.

Tensions between Turkey and some European countries reached a low during the weekend after several countries barred Turkish ministers from speaking at rallies of expatriate Turks ahead of an April 16 constitutional referendum with the Netherlands even banning two of Turkey's ministers from visiting the country.

Turkey then responded on Monday by closing off its airspace to Dutch diplomats and halting all high-level discussions with the country.


The Dutch ambassador to Turkey, who is currently on a trip abroad, will not be allowed to return to the country, said Numan Kurtulmus, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister.

Meanwhile Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of "supporting terrorists."

"Mrs Merkel, why are you hiding terrorists in your country? Why are you not doing anything?" Erdogan said.

"Mrs Merkel, you are supporting terrorists."

German Chancellor, Merkel replied by calling the accusations "clearly absurd"

Turkey's foreign ministry has accused the European Union of exercising democratic values selectively and that it shouldn't be standing by the Netherlands, which it accuses of violating human rights and European values.