Turkey's PM urges Europe not interfere in Ankara's affairs

ANKARA, March 11 (KUNA) -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim Saturday called on the European countries not to interfere in internal affairs of his country.
This came in Yildrim's speech before a rally in the Turkish western city of Balikesir in reaction to the Netherlands' prevention of plane of Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu form landing in Rotterdam.
"Do not do that! I warn that this does not fit into friendship, (and) alliance. Those who become friends of Turkey's enemies will display enmity against Turkey," the prime minister said.
Dutch Foreign Ministry announced early Saturday in a statement that the Netherlands canceled Cavusoglu's flight permit on grounds of "security" and "public safety." Cavusoglu was scheduled to address the Turkish community in the Dutch city of Rotterdam Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported.
"Europe, please do not put your nose into Turkey's internal affairs, politics," the prime minister told the crowd.
Both Germany and the Netherlands reject the constitutional amendments, and prevented ministers and MPs from meeting with the Turkish community in the two countries, he said.
He said Germany and the Netherlands can do whatever they want, and the Turkish people overseas will reply to this move through the popular referendum on the amendments slated for April 16.
Yildirim indicated that some European countries hosted the Kurdistan Workers' Party or (PKK), Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) members and anti-Turkey figures.
Meanwhile, Cavusoglu described the Netherlands' stance as "scandal" in every sense of the word, and is an unacceptable move.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday said Turkish people are angry at this move, but the Netherlands took a good decision".
Anadolu Agency quoted Rutte as saying that Cavusoglu warned that if the Netherlands cancels the flight, Turkey will impose severe sanctions on the Netherlands that will affect it economically and politically.
Rutte expressed his astonishment over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks in which he described the Netherlands as "Nazi and remnants." The Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the threat from Turkey about sanctions made it "impossible" to find a reasonable solution.
The Netherlands has no objection to such meetings in the country which would inform those people, the statement said.
However, it claimed Turkish authorities did not want to respect rules for maintaining the order and safety of the community.
The Netherlands, Austria and Germany have canceled meetings of some Turkish ministers and politicians, which they planned as part of their Yes campaigns ahead of the referendum in Turkey, on April 16. (end) rs.hm