EU’s Tusk: Turkish remarks about Dutch fascism “detached from reality”

A constitutional referendum in Turkey is set to be held on April 16, it will expand the presidential power to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He was infuriated when a minister was barred from addressing a Rotterdam rally, sparking clashes with police.

Several hundred police officers were deployed at the demonstration, which police said was peaceful.

Erdogan on Wednesday also said he had given instructions for a “twinning” agreement between Istanbul and the Dutch city of Rotterdam be scrapped, saying “it is not possible to be twins under such conditions”.

Erdogan accused European Union countries of persecuting Muslims like Jews were during World War II, and said that the “spirit of fascism” was running wild on the streets of Europe.

Around 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops in Srebrenica.

But he said the idea of apologizing was “bizarre”.

“My home country, Luxembourg, was occupied by the Nazis”, he said. I’m going to de-escalate, but not by offering apologies.

“I’m telling you, Europe, do you have that courage?”

On Saturday, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte blocked Turkish officials from entering the country.

Later on March 11, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said it does not want the Dutch ambassador to return to Ankara from his current leave “for some time”.

But hours later in an interview with A-Haber television, Erdogan bluntly stated: “Mrs Merkel, you are supporting terrorists”.

As the diplomatic row escalated, policemen sealed off the entrances and exits of roads to Dutch consulate due to security concerns following protests those staged in solidarity with Cavusoglu and Kaya.

After Turkey’s family minister was escorted into Germany, Wilders tweeted: “go away and never come back”.

The Turkish government argues the changes would ensure stability and create more efficient governance but opponents say it would lead to one-man rule and further inflame tensions in its diverse society. “It has become mission impossible for those who need it most to seek refuge in Europe”, Panos Navrozidis, the IRC’s country director in Greece, said. Austria – Hitler’s birthplace, lest we forget – has already called for an EU-wide ban on Turkish rallies.

“There is no prospect of entry in the long run”.

How did European countries react to Turkey rallying to gather support? “We don’t have to get permission from anyone”, said Cavusoglu. The EU has been wasting our time on the visa liberalization issue.

He noted that when discussing the various scenarios for Europe, the main objective should be to strengthen mutual trust and unity among 27, an objective with which all 27 leaders agree.

Erdogan has repeatedly accused European Union states of behaving like Nazi Germany over what he sees as discrimination against Turks, in comments that have caused outrage across the continent.

Cavusoglu also decided against traveling to Switzerland for an event Sunday after failing to find a suitable venue.