Merkel supports Netherlands amid Turkey spat

Berlin March 14 (IANS) Germany s Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her support for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after Turkey accused his Netherland s government of Nazism.

During a press conference in Munich on Monday Angela Merkel qualified Turkey s accusations of Nazism completely unacceptable after similar claims were leveled at Germany Efe news reported.

Merkel pointed out that she had rejected Ankara s comparison last week adding that this rejection extended to comparisons affecting the Netherlands who had suffered so much under the Nazis.

A diplomatic spat between the Netherlands and Turkey gained momentum over the weekend after Dutch authorities denied landing permission for a plane carrying Turkey s foreign minister who was planning to attend a referendum campaign in Rotterdam.

The Turkish government recently launched a verbal attack on the German government after similar events were cancelled in Germany.

Turkey is preparing for a referendum that could pave the way for Erdogan to assume more powers as president.

--IANS
vgu/