"I am going to Rotterdam today (Saturday)," Cavusoglu told CNN-Turk television in an interview. "We will impose heavy sanctions on the Netherlands" if the visit is blocked, he added.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders Thursday said his country would "in no way" facilitate Cavusoglu's planned visit.
"We will not participate in a visit by a Turkish government official who wants to conduct a political campaign for a referendum," Koenders said.
"Therefore we will not cooperate," he said, adding he had informed Cavusoglu.
Cavusoglu was penciled in to address a planned rally in the port city of Rotterdam Saturday to gather support for a referendum in Turkey next month, aimed at boosting the powers of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
But Rotterdam's mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb announced Wednesday the gathering was canceled after an owner said the rally's venue was no longer available.
(Tasnim)
11/3/17
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The Dutch government has withdrawn landing permission for the plane with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on board...
ReplyDeleteMr Cavusoglu earlier said he would visit Rotterdam on Saturday, despite a ban on him to address a rally there.
He warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit were blocked.
Citing security concerns, Rotterdam's mayor had said Mr Cavusoglu could not campaign there to win support among expatriates for April's referendum.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a statement that the Turkish threat of sanctions made "the search for a reasonable solution impossible".
Therefore the Netherlands announced it would withdraw landing rights, he said.
Similar meetings in Austria, Germany and Switzerland have also been banned.
BBC
11/3/17