Turkey asks off-duty Dutch ambassador to extend leave as row spirals

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday asked the Dutch ambassador to Turkey to extend his leave and not to return to his position "for some time," local Daily Sabah reported.

The move came after Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Betul Sayan Kaya's vehicle was stopped by Dutch police from entering the consulate in Rotterdam late Saturday.

"We do not want the Dutch ambassador, currently on leave, to return to his post for some time," the ministry said in a statement released Saturday.

"It has been explained to our counterparts that this grave decision taken against Turkey and the Dutch Turkish community will cause serious problems diplomatically, politically, economically and in other areas," read the statement.

The ministry also said that the Dutch government's treatment to Turkish officials was "hostile" and "a first in 405 years of relations."

Kaya was told that as a Turkish minister, she was forbidden from entering the consulate building and allowed only 30 meters away from it.

Kaya's office reportedly said she would address Turkish citizens there instead after the Netherlands denied landing permission to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's flight.

The street where the consulate building is located has been closed right after Kaya announced her travel.

source: Xinhua