By Nur Asena Erturk and Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
ANKARA (AA) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday apologized on behalf of the Dutch government for his country's past involvement in slavery.
"We can recognize slavery in the clearest terms as a crime against humanity," Rutte said during a press conference in The Hague.
He expressed regret that for centuries, "the Dutch state enabled, encouraged, and profited from slavery."
"People have been commodified, exploited and traded in the name of the Dutch state," Rutte added.