The planned visit of a parliamentary delegation to Turkey has been cancelled.
The MPs have unanimously decided to cancel the visit after the Turkish government said it would not meet with any of the delegates because of the presence of Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders among them.
Labour Party MP and delegation leader Harm Evert Waalkens expressed regret that the trip to Turkey was cancelled, but said parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee had acted on the principle of support for a fellow MP’s freedom of speech.
Geert Wilders is highly controversial in Turkey because of his inflammatory statements on Islam. He said he had wanted to travel to Turkey to explain in person why he believes the country cannot join the European Union.
The Turkish government has expressed surprise and regret at the news of the cancelled visit. Ankara says it never said Mr Wilders was not welcome, just simply that it would not roll out the red carpet for him.
Source: www.rnw.nl, 2 December 2009