Military coup underway in Turkey

The world has just gone more mad than I thought..........

I fear it is going to get worse before it gets better, Lily.

https://www.rt.com/news/380425-turkish-eggs-dutch-consulate/

Protesters have gathered outside the Dutch consulate in Istanbul venting their anger after the Netherlands barred Turkey’s foreign minister from landing in Rotterdam and deported its family minister. The protesters pelted the consulate building with eggs.
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Turkey-EU row
Hundreds of people turned out despite the rain carrying Turkish national flags and placards reading “yes,” in reference to the country’s upcoming constitutional referendum on expanding the powers of President Recep Tayip Erdogan, reports Ruptly news agency.

Some also chanted anti-Dutch slogans and pelted the consulate building with eggs

Videos at link.

Remember, Erdogan has a HUGE trump card he is liable to play - hundreds of thousands of 'refugees' the EU bribed him to keep in Turkey.

And Ma Merkel went out of her way to suck up to him - the woman is an utter menace. She's likely to be remembered as the third German leader in 100 years to trash Europe.

Denmark asks Turkish premier to postpone trip.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Denmark's prime minister says that's he's asked Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim to postpone a planned visit because of "tensions" between Ankara and the Netherlands.

Danish public broadcaster DR says that Yildirim plans to pay a visit the country on March 20 but Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen announced in a separate statement that such a visit couldn't take place in light of "the current Turkish attack on Holland."

"Under normal circumstances, it would be a pleasure to welcome the Turkish prime minister," Rasmussen said, adding to DR that the Danish government was "very concerned" about political developments in Turkey.

It wasn't immediately clear which date Yildirim's visit would be rescheduled to.

French conservative candidate Francois Fillon says France should have banned Turkey's foreign minister from holding a rally in the country.

Fillon, who is running for presidency in the April-May election, wrote in a statement that two of France's closest allies, Germany and The Netherlands, "have been publicly insulted in unspeakable way by Turkish leaders."

He accuses Socialist President Francois Hollande of breaking with European solidarity: "it's obvious a common position should have prevailed to handle the Turkish demands."

Fillon says the controversy shows Turkey is moving away from European values a little more every day.

French authorities have said the rally of Turkey's top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu in the eastern city of Metz has been authorized in the name of the freedom of assembly and as long as it represents no threat to public order.

Will the wannabe Caliph agree to that?

Of course not, Lily, being reasonable isn't Erdogan's aim. He's playing to the gallery back home -Look at brave little Turkey, persecuted by those European fascists! Vote for me, I'll stand up to them!

Odds on Denmark being called 'nazi' before the day's out?

Why not?  

French authorities have said the rally of Turkey's top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu in the eastern city of Metz has been authorized in the name of the freedom of assembly and as long as it represents no threat to public order.

Cheese-eating surrender monkeys.

French candidate Macron condemns Turkey.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — French centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron "strongly condemns" what he calls provocations from the Turkish government.

Macron has called on France to support its European partners and "reject the Turkish government's abuses." He says that "the European Union must have a united response." He criticizes "unacceptable comments" by the Turkish authorities that target "European values," and Germany and the Netherlands. Polls suggest Macron is the front-runner in the country's April-May presidential election.

I don't blame the other European nations for being annoyed with the French government, LL. If ever a united front was needed, it's now.

Agreed 100%.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's cynical interventions are not welcome in European politics.

The Dutch election on Wednesday will be the first test this year of the supposed rise of populism in Europe. The anti-immigration Party for Freedom, led by the controversial Geert Wilders, is expected to top the polls but is likely to be kept out of government by the refusal of his opponents to enter a coalition.

This could trigger another election campaign that is unnecessary for the Netherlands. The current campaign has caused deep divisions in a bastion of European liberalism, as arguments rage over the impact of immigration. The last thing the country needed was for these tensions to be exacerbated by the intrusion of Turkish politics.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants to tap into support among 400,000 Turks living in the Netherlands to improve his chances in a forthcoming referendum. But ministers’ campaign efforts have caused resentment in the Netherlands. The Turkish foreign minister has been denied entry and another expelled, triggering a diplomatic row. President Erdoğan even likened the Dutch to Nazis, an insult calculated to deepen the rift.

The Dutch reaction has played into Mr Erdoğan’s hands. He has been criticised for shutting down media critical of his government and arresting or dismissing opponents after last year’s failed coup. Now he can cite the denial of free expression in Europe to bolster his repressive policies at home.

The other winner is Mr Wilders. The protests and clashes between the police and Turkish demonstrators will feed into his arguments against immigration. It is distasteful to witness these two populists cynically using the other for their own ends. Mr Erdoğan should stay out of European politics.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/03/13/president-recep-tayyip-erdogans-cynical-interventions-not-welcome/

What a mess.

bb1 wrote:What a mess.

The whole world seems to be going to hell in a hamdbasket!! I think I'll go and buy an island somewhere .... LL

Turkey formally protests minister's treatment in Netherlands

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Netherlands' top diplomat to formally protest its treatment of a Turkish minister in that country over the weekend as well as what it said was "disproportionate" use of force against demonstrators in a protest that ensued.

The Ministry said the Dutch Embassy's charge d'affaires, Daan Feddo Huisinga, was called to the ministry where a senior official handed him two formal protest notes. The first protested what it said practices that were contrary to international conventions, diplomatic courtesy, and diplomatic immunities and requested a written apology from the Dutch authorities, a ministry statement said. Turkey also reserved its right to seek compensation, the Dutch diplomat was told.

The second note protested the treatment of Turkish citizens who had gathered outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, saying "disproportionate force" had been used against "people using their right to peaceful gatherings. It added that Turkish nationals had been subjected to "inhumane and derogatory" treatment and called for those responsible to be identified and punished.

It was the third time that the Dutch diplomat has been summoned since tensions broke out between the two countries after two ministers were prevented from campaigning in the Netherlands. The family affairs minister was escorted out of the country while the foreign minister was denied permission to land.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday vowed to retaliate against the Netherlands after claiming that "Nazism is alive in the West."

No immediate Dutch reaction on Turkey protest

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Dutch government had no immediate reaction to news that Turkey had summoned its top diplomat to protest the treatment of the two ministers and of Dutch-Turkish protesters outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam in the early hours of Sunday morning.

On Sunday night, Dutch riot police were called in to end a protest by Turks in Amsterdam and arrested 13 people, said spokeswoman Marjolein Koek. Media showed police with dogs and a water cannon being used to disperse protesters in western Amsterdam.

The Dutch government also has updated its travel advisory for Turkey, a popular vacation destination, warning travelers about the heightened diplomatic tensions. "Be alert and avoid gatherings and busy places throughout Turkey," the advisory warns.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Netherlands' top diplomat to formally protest its treatment of a Turkish minister in that country over the weekend as well as what it said was "disproportionate" use of force against demonstrators in a protest that ensued.

The Ministry said the Dutch Embassy's charge d'affaires, Daan Feddo Huisinga, was called to the ministry where a senior official handed him two formal protest notes.

The first protested what it said practices that were contrary to international conventions, diplomatic courtesy, and diplomatic immunities and requested a written apology from the Dutch authorities, a ministry statement said. Turkey also reserved its right to seek compensation, the Dutch diplomat was told.

The second note protested the treatment of Turkish citizens who had gathered outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, saying "disproportionate force" had been used against "people using their right to peaceful gatherings. It added that Turkish nationals had been subjected to "inhumane and derogatory" treatment and called for those responsible to be identified and punished.

It was the third time that the Dutch diplomat has been summoned since tensions broke out between the two countries after two ministers were prevented from campaigning in the Netherlands.

I am afraid it's just a matter of time before Erdogan launches some new, ghastly provocation, LL. He's playing to his domestic audience, and he's got to keep them stirred up and convinced they're being victimised by so-called 'European fascists'.

Ministers reject Turkish election campaigns in Denmark.

MPs from two Danish parties have said that they oppose election campaigning in Denmark by the Turkish government.

Neither the Liberal (Venstre) party, the largest party in the country’s governing coalition, nor the nationalist Danish People’s Party (DF), which supports the government in parliament, wants Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim to hold campaign meetings in the Scandinavian country.

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Sunday that he proposed Yildirim postpone a planned visit to Denmark later this month.

Kenneth Kristensen Berth, EU spokesperson for DF, told newspaper Politiken that he was highly critical of Turkey’s policy of campaigning in other European countries.

“I think it is completely unacceptable that Turkey is transforming European countries into a battlefield for its internal election campaigns,” the minister said.

Berth said that an insistence by Turkey on campaigning in Denmark would show a “lack of respect”.

“We do not want internal conflicts imported from Turkey with the assistance of a very self-assured Turkish government. It quite simply will not do,” Berth told Politiken.

“It shows a lack of respect for the integrity of other European countries that election campaigns are being conducted outside of the country’s borders. I think it is rude and we should make it clear that we will not allow it,” the minister continued.

Although a final decision by the government has not yet been confirmed, Venstre’s foreign policy spokesperson Michael Aastrup wrote on Twitter that “expects” that Turkey’s prime minister will not hold election meetings if he visits Denmark.

“This would be a red rag to relations between us and Kurds, amongst other things,” wrote Aastrup.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3079491/turkey-warns-netherlands-pro-erdogan-protests/?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-TheSun-_-News-_-TwImageandlink-_-Reply-_-TWITTER

WAR OF WORDS Netherlands warns its citizens to take care in Turkey after Tayyip Erdogan labelled the Dutch ‘Nazis’ amid bitter diplomatic row
The Turkish president has accused the Netherlands of behaving like fascists

THE Netherlands today told its citizens to take care when travelling in Turkey amid a bitter and escalating row between the two countries.

In an urgent tourist terror alert the Dutch Foreign Ministry declared: “Stay alert across the whole of Turkey and avoid gatherings and crowded places.”...etc.

It's even more insulting than usual to be calling Dutch people 'nazis'.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-03-13/turkey-says-migrant-deal-has-ended-may-unleash-millions-refugees

Quote:

It was unclear what the sudden Turkish escalation means for economic ties between the two nations: as a reminder, Dutch direct investment in Turkey amounts to $22 billion, making the Netherlands the biggest source of foreign investment with a share of 16%. Furthermore, Turkish exports to the Netherlands totalled $3.6 billion in 2016, making it the tenth largest market for Turkish goods, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. Turkey imported $3 billion worth of Dutch goods in 2016. Should the diplomatic spat lead to a collapse in trade relations, a Turkey recession is all but assured.

Kurtulmus said the political sanctions will apply until the Netherlands takes steps to "redress" its actions. He said: "There is a crisis and a very deep one. We didn't create this crisis or bring to this stage."

However the most troubling development, and one which has the potential to sway the outcome of the Dutch election which will be held in less than two days, is that in the final power play aimed towards Merkel, Kurtulmus exclaimed that since "Europe has not kept its promises on the migrant deal, for us that agreement has ended."

Which means that one year after it collected $3 billion for the migrant deal, Turkey has just voided the agreement, and the next step would be that Turkey is about to flood Europe with refugees currently held inside Turkish borders. And since by some estimates Turkey currently harbors over 2 million potential migrants, Europe's refugee situation is about to get far worse, and as a corollary, support for anti-immigrant political organizations across the continent is about to take another step function higher.

Turkey sanctions the Netherlands over ministers' treatment

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey announced a series of political sanctions against the Netherlands on Monday over its refusal to allow two Turkish ministers to campaign there, including halting high-level political discussions between the two countries and closing Turkish air space to Dutch diplomats.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, briefing journalists after the weekly council of ministers meeting, said the sanctions would apply until the Netherlands takes steps "to redress" the actions that Ankara sees as a grave insult.

"There is a crisis and a very deep one. We didn't create this crisis or bring it to this stage," Kurtulmus said. "Those who did have to take steps to redress the situation." Other sanctions bar the Dutch ambassador entry back into Turkey and advise parliament to withdraw from a Dutch-Turkish friendship group

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5031790-turkey-sanctions-netherlands-ministers-treatment.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1
------------
A look at simmering tensions between Turkey and Netherlands

BERLIN (AP) — Diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Western Europe erupted over the weekend after the Netherlands blocked Turkish officials from holding rallies in their country, prompting a flurry of angry rhetoric and threats of dire consequences from Ankara.

Here are some questions and answers about the situation and how it escalated so suddenly:

WHY WERE TURKISH OFFICIALS HOLDING RALLIES IN THE NETHERLANDS?

Turkey is a month away from holding a referendum on whether to change the country's constitution. The proposed changes would significantly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Opinion polls indicate the race is tight and Erdogan's ruling party is trying to drum up support for the "yes" camp by campaigning among diaspora Turks elsewhere in Europe.

There are around 400,000 people of Turkish origin living in the Netherlands, many of whom immigrated as so-called guest workers in the 1960s.

This has made Dutch cities such as Rotterdam a key campaign stop for Turkish officials.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5032654-simmering-tensions-turkey-netherlands.html#.1258-stage-hero1-7

Turkey-Netherlands row: Dutch ambassador barred.

Turkey has announced a series of measures in retaliation for a Dutch decision to block its ministers from campaigning for a referendum.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the Dutch ambassador would be barred from returning to Ankara, and high-level political talks suspended.

Turkish attempts to hold rallies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands have been blocked.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Dutch and Germans of Nazism.

Turkey and the Netherlands, two Nato allies, are now locked in an unprecedented diplomatic crisis.

I am afraid that Erdogan is bound to do something else awful to keep his supporters stirred up, LL - he's rapidly getting as bad and dangerous as Fattie.

I'm psychic.

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BREAKING: Turkey says migrant deal with the EU has ended, as the other side did not keep its promises

If that is correct, then every single nation in Europe MUST close its borders and use the military to do so. The alternative is civil war, because this situation is a powder keg primed to explode.

And most of it is Merkel's fault.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-03-13/turkey-says-migrant-deal-has-ended-may-unleash-millions-refugees

Turkey Says "Migrant Deal Has Ended", May Unleash Millions Of Refugees

However the most troubling development, and one which has the potential to sway the outcome of the Dutch election which will be held in less than two days, is that in the final power play aimed towards Merkel, Kurtulmus exclaimed that since "Europe has not kept its promises on the migrant deal, for us that agreement has ended."

Which means that one year after it collected $3 billion for the migrant deal, Turkey has just voided the agreement, and the next step would be that Turkey is about to flood Europe with refugees currently held inside Turkish borders. And since by some estimates Turkey currently harbors over 2 million potential migrants, Europe's refugee situation is about to get far worse, and as a corollary, support for anti-immigrant political organizations across the continent is about to take another step function higher.