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NATO head calls on Turkey, Netherlands to deescalate tension

13 March 2017 17:30 (UTC+04:00)
NATO head calls on Turkey, Netherlands to deescalate tension

By Trend

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg on Mar. 13 called on two of the alliance's members, Turkey and the Netherlands, to defuse their escalating dispute, the Turkish media reported.

“Robust debate is at the heart of our democracies but so is mutual respect,” Stoltenberg said. “I would encourage all allies to show mutual respect, to be calm and have a measured approach.”

“To contribute to deescalate the tensions, defuse tensions and deescalate the situation, it’s important that we now focus on everything that unites us,” he added.

On Saturday, the Dutch government first canceled the Turkish foreign minister's flight permit to the Netherlands and then blocked a convoy carrying Turkey’s family minister from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Protests erupted outside consulate in Rotterdam, where Dutch police used guard dogs and baton to disperse peaceful crowd gathering in support of Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya. She was later forced to leave consulate area with police escort.

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