Erdogan blasts Holland for stopping minister's plane from landing

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the Netherlands on Saturday for stopping his Foreign Minister's plane from landing in the country.

"The Netherlands should now think about how their planes will land in Turkey," the President said at an event in Istanbul, Xinhua news agency reported.

"They are the Nazi remnants, fascists," Erdogan said.

A Dutch Foreign Ministry official earlier confirmed to Efe news that after failing to find an alternative solution with the Turkish authorities, the Dutch stopped Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's plane from landing.

The Netherlands revoked permission for the plane carrying Cavusoglu as he was scheduled to address the Turkish diaspora in the city of Rotterdam, which involved security concerns.

Cavusoglu was set to garner votes in the April 16 referendum on Turkey switching to a presidential system.

On Thursday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had said "no" to Cavusoglu's plan to hold rallies in his country.

Speaking to CNNTurk before his departure to the Netherlands, the top Turkish envoy threatened the northern European country with harsh economic and political sanctions in case he was not allowed in.

Ankara is already embroiled in a row with Germany over a similar ban on rallies, which has chilled their bilateral ties to a new low.

--IANS

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