  Netherlands withdraws ambassador from Turkey February 5, 2018 - 17:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Dutch government has decided to officially withdraw the Netherlands' Ambassador from Turkey, the ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday, February 5, Xinhua reports. "Recent talks offered Turkey and the Netherlands an opportunity to come closer to each other, but we have not been able to agree on the way normalization should take place," said Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra. As long as the Netherlands has no Ambassador to Turkey, the Netherlands will not issue permission for a new Turkish ambassador to take up duties in the Netherlands, added the Dutch ministry. The decision is seen as a formality because Dutch Ambassador in Ankara has not had access to Turkey since March 2017 when diplomatic tension between the two countries rose. Back then, Turkish ministers were barred from holding rallies in the Dutch city of Rotterdam for a referendum on constitutional amendments to expand the Turkish president's powers. In protest, the Turkish Foreign Ministry informed the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ankara that they did not wish the Dutch Ambassador, who was on leave outside of Turkey, to return to his post.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24  U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says.Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |
