Turkey warns Dutch will 'pay the price' over ministers' treatment

Denmark's prime minister has asked the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to postponed a planned visit to the country due to "tensions" between Ankara and the Netherlands.

Mr Yildirim is reported to have a visit to Denmark planned for Monday, March 20.

However, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has said that such a visit cannot take place in light of "the current Turkish attack on Holland".

"Under normal circumstances, it would be a pleasure to welcome the Turkish Prime Minister", Mr Rasmussen said.

He continued that the Danish Government was "very concerned" about political developments in Turkey.

The diplomatic row between Turkey and the Netherlands began when Rotterdam authorities cancelled a Turkish rally in the city, and then the Dutch Government refused to let the country's foreign minister's plane land.

In response Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decried the Dutch as "Nazi remnants", while Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has threatened "harsh" retaliation.

It is not known when the visit will be rescheduled for.

Turkey should apologise for comparing the Dutch to Nazis, the Netherlands' Prime Minister has said.

Mark Rutte added that the latest comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he accused the Netherlands of acting like a "banana republic" and said it will pay the price for its "shameless" treatment of Turksih ministers, are "unacceptable" and are not helping to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.

Mr Rutte added that if Turkey continues on its current path then the Netherlands would be forced to consider it's response.

The row began on Saturday when a Turkish rally in Rotterdam was cancelled and the country's foreign minister's plane was not allowed to land in the Netherlands.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the Netherlands is acting like a "banana republic" in the latest exchange between the two countries.

President Erdogan has also called on international organisations to speak out against the Netherlands and impose sanctions on them, and also criticised European countries for failing to voice criticism for the Netherlands' treatment of Turkish ministers.

A banana republic is a small state that is politically unstable as a result of the domination of its economy by a single export controlled by foreign capital.

Speaking at an event in Kocaeli the 63-year-old's comments are the latest escalation in the diplomatic row over a cancelled Turkish rally in the Netherlands.

Rotterdam authorities banned the rally in the city and the Dutch Government refused to let the Turkish foreign minister's plane land in the country, and then refused to allow the family affairs minister enter the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Turkey continued its aggressive rhetoric towards the Netherlands by referring to it as the "capital of fascism".

Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made the remark at a meeting in Metz, France, as the diplomatic row between the two countries escalated further.

Earlier the French foreign ministry called on Turkey to avoid provocations and de-escalate tensions between itself and several EU member states.

But Turkey is continuing to threaten its the Netherlands after two Turkish ministers were barred from travelling there on Saturday, just weeks ahead of a crucial referendum instigated by President Recep Erdogan.

Turkey's president has said the Netherlands will pay the price for what he referred to as the "shameless" treatment of Turkish ministers.

On Saturday, two Turkish ministers were prevented from travelling in the Netherlands and campaigning among Turkish voters, ahead of next month's referendum on extending the president's powers.

"They will certainly pay the price, and also learn what diplomacy is. We will teach them international diplomacy," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

Mr Erdogan also repeated his earlier accusation that the Dutch are "Nazi's" and "fascists".

• What is the Turkey-Netherlands row all about?
• Dutch PM: 'We drew a red line' over Turkey sanctions threat

Amid escalating tensions between the Netherlands and Turkey, a man has climbed onto the roof of the Dutch consulate in Istanbul and replaced the Netherlands' flag with a Turkish one.

It comes after two Turkish ministers were prevented from attending rallies in Rotterdam to campaign ahead of referendum on extended powers for Turkey's president which will take place in April.

In retaliation, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan branded the Dutch "fascists" and protests have taken place in both Turkey and the Netherlands.

• What is the Turkey-Netherlands row all about?

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said two Turkish ministers were prevented from travelling in the Netherlands and campaigning among Turkish voters because Ankara had threatened sanctions against his government.

"We can never do business under this kind of blackmail," he said, adding: "We drew a red line."

Mr Rutte also said he was shocked to see Turkey's family affairs minister attempt to get to a Rotterdam rally by car after the Dutch government had made clear she was not welcome.

Fatma Betual Sayan was escorted back to the German border after a long standoff outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Earlier, the Dutch government had withdrawn the landing rights of the plane carrying Turkey's foreign minister, who was also scheduled to attend a rally.

The ministers planned to urge Turkish expatriates to back a referendum, which would expand Turkey's president's powers, which will be held in April.

Protesters have been demonstrating outside the Dutch consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul amid an escalating diplomatic row between Turkey and the Netherlands.

It comes after Turkey's president branded the Dutch "Nazi remnants" and "fascists" after his foreign minister's plane was denied landing permission on Saturday amid tensions over a banned Turkish rally.

In response, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he understood Turkey's anger, but Mr Erdogan's remarks "way out of line".

Turkey's Family Affairs Minister was later blocked by Dutch police from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey will retaliate "in the harshest ways" to the Dutch authorities actions.