Economic sanctions against Netherlands 'possible'

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

VAN / ANKARA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci Tuesday brought up the possibility of economic sanctions against the Netherlands.

Answering journalists' questions in Turkey's eastern province of Van, Tufenkci said that only "political and legal sanctions" against the Netherlands had so far been considered amid growing tension with the European country.

"Economic sanctions may be added to the agenda in the upcoming period," said Tufenkci.

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was refused permission to land in the Netherlands and Family and Social Affairs Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya was forced to leave the country under police escort after being blocked from entering Turkey’s Consulate in Rotterdam.

When Turkish citizens in Rotterdam protested, they were met by police using batons, dogs and water cannons, in what some analysts called a disproportionate use of force.

The incidents drew strong criticism from Ankara, including via diplomatic notes sent to the Netherlands in protest.

In Ankara on Tuesday, Turkey-Netherlands Inter-parliamentary Friendship Council Chairman and Justice and Development (AK) Party deputy Ertugrul Soysal told Anadolu Agency "possibly the friendship council will be abolished as of Tuesday."

Also in Ankara, Ahmet Berat Conkar, co-chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, released a statement condemning the European countries' barring Turkish officials and ministers from meeting the Turkish community.

"Our nation very well knows and comprehends the reason behind the intolerance of these countries against a natural right, the right to be informed of over 5 million people of Turkish origin living in Europe and the reason of the fear and weakness behind the violence perpetrated against our people who demonstrated their democratic reaction in lucidity," the statement read.

"The dignified stance of our nation which is devoted to its self-identity, faith and culture, our economic growth, progress and rapid advance towards our goals have made some of our rivals uncomfortable, and increased the already existing discomfort of others," it added.