Netherlands, Turkey fail to heal diplomatic rift

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch foreign ministry says attempts to heal a diplomatic rift between the Netherlands and Turkey have faltered.

The ministry issued a statement Monday saying that recent talks did not reach agreement on how to normalize relations.

As a result, the Dutch government is officially withdrawing its ambassador, a largely symbolic gesture as the diplomat has been barred from Turkey since March 2017. The ministry added that as long as there is no Dutch ambassador in Ankara, it will not allow a new Turkish ambassador in the Netherlands.

Relations between the two countries were plunged into crisis last year over the Dutch refusal to allow Turkish ministers to campaign in the Netherlands ahead of a referendum that gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan more power.