Turkey's business organizations slam Dutch move barring ministers' visits

Representatives from Turkey's top business organizations have condemned a Dutch move to prevent Turkish ministers from visiting the country, describing the move as "unacceptable" while calling for diplomacy to end the crisis.

"Both parties, Turkey and the Netherlands, need to resolve the recent tensions through diplomatic methods on the basis of their friendship, European values and common interests," the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) said in a written statement on March 11, after the Netherlands canceled flight clearance for Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. "It is a historic responsibility for all politicians to act in prudent, far-sighted and problem-solving manner in a world where democracies are being tested and security risks are on the rise." 

The head of the Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, said the Dutch move was "unacceptable."

"I strongly condemn this decision," he said March 11. 

Claiming that there was no excuse to cancel flight clearance for the foreign minister of Turkey, a member of the Council of Europe and NATO and a candidate for the EU membership, he said: "I am calling on Dutch circles with common sense to act. They must uphold EU values. The Netherlands is one of the founders of the EU … Tension will do no good," said Hisarcıklıoğlu. 

Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) President Ömer Cihad Vardan said the Dutch move was inconsistent with the democratic values on which the EU was founded. 

"We have seen some unlawful and irrational practices by some European countries against our ministers. As the representatives of Turkey's business community, we cannot understand why. It is impossible to understand why flight clearance was...