Reprisals to continue until Turkey gets Dutch apology

By Humeyra Atilgan Buyukovali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish foreign minister said Sunday Turkey’s reprisals will continue until Netherlands apologizes over its actions against Turkish ministers.

Speaking to reporters in the French city of Metz, Mevlut Cavusoglu demanded an apology from the Dutch government for what it did on Saturday.

The minister also revealed that Turkey's charge d'affaires was arrested by Dutch police.

He said Turkey had taken its first step against the Netherlands by asking the Dutch ambassador to Ankara, who is currently on leave, to not return “for a while”.

"We will definitely take more steps. The Netherlands will apologize to Turkey. As long as they do not, we will continue to take steps," Cavusoglu said.

"Europe has been on the edge of a cliff," 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.

The ministers were due to meet Turkish residents ahead of the April 16 referendum on constitutional reforms in Turkey.