Turkey and Netherlands agree to restore diplomatic ties
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey and the Netherlands have agreed to restore diplomatic relations that broke down more than a year ago.
Their respective foreign ministers “agreed to reinstate ambassadors in Ankara and The Hague shortly. The ministers also agreed that the Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs will pay an official visit to Turkey in the second half of 2018,” read a joint statement.
Ties between the two broke down in March 2017 when Dutch authorities cancelled the flight of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The Turkish diplomat was on his way to take part in a rally in support of the Yes campaign for the April 2017 referendum. Dutch authorities cancelled the rally, citing security concerns.
Cavusoglu threatened “severe sanctions” against the Netherlands and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Dutch of behaving like “fascists.” The Hague withdrew its ambassador to Ankara in February and did not allow Turkey’s new ambassador to take up duties in the Dutch capital.
Cavusoglu and Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok broke the ice when they met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels on July 11, their joint statement detailed.
“The two ministers underlined that Turkey and the Netherlands have been two friendly countries and NATO allies that have many common interests. They have had intensive relations for over four centuries, have been NATO allies for over six decades and enjoy substantial trade and investment ties,” read their statement.
After the summit, the ministers stayed in contact and have agreed to cooperate on issues like “migration, combatting terrorism and fostering economic cooperation.”
About 450,000 people of Turkish origin live in the Netherlands, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Their respective foreign ministers “agreed to reinstate ambassadors in Ankara and The Hague shortly. The ministers also agreed that the Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs will pay an official visit to Turkey in the second half of 2018,” read a joint statement.
Ties between the two broke down in March 2017 when Dutch authorities cancelled the flight of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The Turkish diplomat was on his way to take part in a rally in support of the Yes campaign for the April 2017 referendum. Dutch authorities cancelled the rally, citing security concerns.
Cavusoglu threatened “severe sanctions” against the Netherlands and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Dutch of behaving like “fascists.” The Hague withdrew its ambassador to Ankara in February and did not allow Turkey’s new ambassador to take up duties in the Dutch capital.
Cavusoglu and Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok broke the ice when they met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels on July 11, their joint statement detailed.
“The two ministers underlined that Turkey and the Netherlands have been two friendly countries and NATO allies that have many common interests. They have had intensive relations for over four centuries, have been NATO allies for over six decades and enjoy substantial trade and investment ties,” read their statement.
After the summit, the ministers stayed in contact and have agreed to cooperate on issues like “migration, combatting terrorism and fostering economic cooperation.”
About 450,000 people of Turkish origin live in the Netherlands, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.