'German, Dutch people are friends of Turkey', said PM Yildirim

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said it is "not the people of Germany and Netherlands" but some European state officials and politicians who are enemies of Turkey.

'German, Dutch people are friends of Turkey', said PM Yildirim

Addressing a public rally in northeastern Ardahan province ahead of the upcoming April 16 referendum on constitutional reforms, Yildirim spoke about the rise in tensions between Turkey and some European countries following a ban on Turkish ministers from meeting their expat communities.

"I hereby condemn the politicians of Germany and the Netherlands. Actually, most of the population there is not against Turkey; they are the friends of Turkey."

However, he said, politicians in those European countries were obsessed with anti-Turkey rhetoric.

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya were banned from holding rallies or meeting their expat community in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Later, when Turkish citizens in Rotterdam peacefully protested against the developments, they were met by police using batons, dogs and water cannons, in what some analysts called a disproportionate use of force.

Earlier this month, Turkish ministers were also barred from holding public rallies in two German cities ahead of the referendum.

The premier also recalled the achievements of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party during the last 15 years and encouraged people to vote Yes in the referendum.

He said the Yes votes would contribute to "a strong Turkey".

He also said No supporters were "providing a basis for terrorism and polarization" in the country.

On April 16, the electorate will be asked to vote Yes or No to an 18-article reform bill, which would also change the current parliamentary system to a presidential one. The Yes campaign is backed by the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Anadolu Agency

WARNING: Comments that contain insults, swearing, offensive sentences or allusions, attacks on beliefs, are not written with spelling rules, do not use Turkish characters and are written in capital letters are not approved.