Turkish-Dutch relationship restored, but no apologies



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The Netherlands and Turkey normalize their diplomatic relations seriously disturbed. News that came long ago, where the only question was when. The two countries are sending ambassadors again and Minister Blok (Foreign Affairs, VVD) will pay an official visit to Turkey this autumn.

This puts an end to a sixteen-month diplomatic conflict that began last March. to let this campaign unfold among the Dutch Turks for the constitutional referendum issued by President Erdogan. Forgotten is the police escort with which the Turkish Minister of Family Affairs Fatma Kaya was transferred to Germany, forgotten on the Dutch side are the violation of national sovereignty by the minister and the harsh words of Erdogan as the Countries -Not denominated "Nazi remains" and fascists. "The Netherlands and Turkey stood on the formula of diplomatic enchantment to agree that they did not agree." Is a good thing that the page has returned, "says Minister Blok in a reaction

Once again, a NATO meeting paved the way for cautious first conversations between ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.This is how it happened six months ago, but the follow-up meetings did not give anything.On the contrary.The ambassador of the Bas, which was until then not welcome in Turkey, was officially withdrawn by the Netherlands

It was long after the first close talks were held in New York between the Dutch and Turkish ambassadors in the autumn of 2017. After this preparatory work, the high-level talks were continued in Ankara and Brussels. .

The hard point was that Turkey continued to apologize for the way Minister Kaya had been treated. Something that the Netherlands refused. There was attitude: forget what happened and look ahead. The word "apology" does not appear in the joint statement issued Friday afternoon by the Netherlands and Turkey. One speaks only of "regrettable events", where each country can decide for itself what is meant by these events.

Why did it take so long? The parties involved on the Dutch side in the negotiations underline the interference of President Erdogan who, because of his trusting relationship with Kaya, almost understood it as a personal matter.

But they also knew that Erdogan was re-elected the previous month without conflict with a major investor. He did not have to apologize anymore. The word "regrettable" was enough.

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